This is the second of four sections on the Rule of Life I have been developing for New Life Fellowship Church in Queens. We have only just begun to pilot it. My concern is to keep us faithful to our charism, that is, our unique grace and calling. I think we are in great need for fresh, creative ways of understanding who we are as God’s people and His call on our lives. I know I need this personally. What amazes me is that every week has more to do in it than available time. I don’t know how I ever lived without that 24 hour Sabbath each week!! In a conversation with Basil Pennington that I had with him before he died (he was a Trappist monk for 55 years and prolific author), he shared with me how he longed for greater time with God, more contemplation now that he had just “retired.” And that was from a monk having 7-8 Daily Offices a day! He also shared that every Trappist monk needed their own personal rule of life within their larger Rule of St. Benedict to which they were committed. I believe the same is true of us – although I suspect few will take the time to think it through that thoroughly. Here is Part 2 — Rest • Value my own dignity as a human being made in God’s image through self-respect and self-care. Genesis 1:27; Luke 15:-17-24, Galatians 4:1-7. An accurate, genuine grasp of Scripture and the gospel delivers us from self-hate into self-respect and self-care, out of which we can love others well. We are image-bearers of God. This is the greatest compliment that could be given regarding our value and worth. Then, in the gospel, we are no longer slaves or orphans, but adopted sons and daughters. Jesus took our sin record, taking our death on the cross. At the same time, we are legally declared righteous in Christ and treated as if our record were perfect before God. • Ruthlessly eliminate hurry. Ps. 46:1-3,10; Prov. 19:2, 22:3; Luke 10:38-42. These famous words by Dallas Willard capture one of the great challenges before us as we seek to live authentic spiritual lives in our 24/7, multi-tasking worlds. The word ruthlessly was chosen intentionally because that is what it takes to begin eliminating hurry from our lives. • Remember God’s history of faithfulness with each new challenge. Exodus 14:10-14; I Samuel 17:34-37; Ps. 106:6-14; 2 Tim. 2:13. We each face “Goliaths” and “Red Seas” during our lives as we journey with Christ. God invites us to remember both His powerful acts through history and the specific ways He has delivered us from the “lion and the bear” (as done by David). Forgetting leads to unbelief while remembering fills us with courage to follow Him wherever He leads. As you ponder the words above, devotionally, what speaks to you as it relates to your journey with Christ today?
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