Thursday: Uprooting Restlessness
Read John 14:1-6. In the midst of our own restlessness, what can we do that our hearts will not feel troubled? What is the key to overcoming division, selfishness, ambition, hypocrisy, and truly finding rest?
Overcoming restlessness always begins with Jesus. He is the way, the truth, and the life.
Image © Kevin Carden at Goodsalt.com
He knows the right direction when we wander aimlessly in the wilderness of our media-saturated world; as the divine Lawgiver He Himself is the personified truth, and His Spirit will guide us into all truth (John 16:13). When we are hurt, tired, worn out, sick, and discouraged, He is the life — not just any life. In fact, He has promised us life in abundance (John 10:10). This includes our eternal home and eternal life, but it also entails a different quality of life here. The Creator surely is able to give abundantly and beyond measure, even now.
“Let not your heart be troubled” is an invitation to live in anticipation. When we feel low, He is able to put us on a higher plain. When we struggle with darkness and sin, He is the One who not only began but will also finish His good work in us (Philippians 1:6).
No matter how bad things get here (and yes, they can get bad) look at the promise we have been given in Jesus. He is preparing a “place” for us, a place where our pain, restlessness, and suffering will forever be banished. That is the hope we have been given in Christ Jesus, and it is offered to all of us, no matter who we are, no matter our background, no matter how sordid our lives have been or are now.
The key, however, is for us to come to God anyway in our weakness, in our hurt, in our brokenness, and in our general fallen state, knowing that He accepts us despite these things. That is what grace is all about, and why we must believe that we have been given it if we seek for it in faith.
Read Jeremiah 3:22. What does God ask us to do, and then, what will He do in response for us?
| Think about Jesus’ words: “I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3). What should this tell us about how central and crucial the promise of the Second Coming is? Especially for us as Adventists (with our understanding of death), why is the promise of the Second Coming so precious? |
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I remember a wonderful Christian family who had a daughter who could only be described as a wild young thing. She kicked over the traces, and lived a wild hedonistic life. We used to ask ourselves how such a loving family could produce a daughter who was so diametrically opposed to everything her family had taught her. Ultimately she became pregnant and was distraught at what that meant to her lifestyle. But her parents brought her back home and supported her during her pregnancy and after the baby was born. They never condemned her. She was family and loved and that love finally won through.
I am not going to pretend that if you treat people with love and support you are always going to be successful, but it is going to be more successful than condemnation. And I am sure that in the example I gave above there were some times of tough talk we were not privy to. However providing her with a safe harbour to rest in during her troubloed time provided the respite that she needed.
We like to quote John 14: Let not your hearts be troubled... and provide a spiritual application to ourselves. But here is another thought: As saved Christians are our homes and churches seen as safe harbours in troubled times. Or, are they seen as places of condemnation. The church collectively wants to have a voice in the community about moral values but our voice is lost if all they hear is condemnation. Compassion must be the voice that is heard first.
Jesus was forthright in telling people to sin no more, but it was preceded by the invitation:
If we are representatives of Jesus our churches (and I don't mean buildings) should be safe harbours for sinners to find rest and encouragement.
Yep, our churches can be a safe harbour as much as they are grounded in the true love, Christ. And we all must be grounded in Christ, because we all have sinned. Thank God that we have a hope which said "but where sin abounded, grace overabounded..." And this was not said because we can go on and sin freely, but also for the time when we get closer to Perfection, because at this place we can definitely see how sinful our own nature is.
Have a great day, Maurice!
Yes Maurice. That’s why there are so many churches have Centers of Influence popping up everywhere. These centers must be led by people with a vision. Also these centers must be supported with our time, talents, means and opportunities. Our homes/houses can even become a “Center of Influence” where others get to see the love of Jesus. But have you ever met someone who is struggling but has become so private they don’t even want to discuss anything with others?
I knew someone who student visa had expired since last year. We talked almost every week but nothing was said to us. They needed financial means to do the renewal. It is a large amount but they have not discussed it with us. Many people think because of the Covid financial aid in all forms have dried up but the Lord has a well untapped. Since last year we told them if they needed help let us know, we never knew until things got worst.
The earth is the Lord and the fullness thereof!!!
At the end of the lesson it mentions the second coming. Isn’t the “second coming” a misnomer. Hasn’t Jesus come many times and appeared to individuals in the Bible eg Abraham, Gideon Moses,Jacob etc. He even came back after seeing his father after the cross.
Jesus is always coming to us and this gives me comfort
Regarding the ability to overcome, what does Jesus invite every sinner to do(Matt 11:28-30)? The Beatitudes describe this same principle in greater detail, which were His first words of the sermon on the mount. Jesus has laid out the path of righteousness and peace for all, and by faith, all may enter into His Rest.
The counsel of the True and Faithful Witness to Laodicea is the same message as that given by Jeremiah, for there is only One Remedy for unbelief/restlessness: “Be zealous therefore and repent”(Rev 3:19).
The promise of Jesus' return to gather His people, the Blessed Hope, is central and crucial if one has been saved from sin, because all others will cry for the rocks and mountains to fall on them to hide them “from the face of Him that sits on the throne”. Only those who have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them “without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing...holy without blemish”(Rev 7:14, Eph 5:27), will stand in that great day(Rev 6:17). Today, the gospel is the most central and crucial for all who would stand on that glorious day(Luke 24:47).
A well known pop singer was about to die from an overuse of drugs. He cried out to God, and God has saved him from that lifestyle and from sleeping around with women. This young man is now singing songs about Jesus, married a Christian young lady, and is seeking to honor God. God's peace far surpasses anything this world has to offer.
💉 Needleless Vaccination
"I got vaccinated," the lady shouted to the reporter covering the event. Her facial expressions revealing a lifted burden that she carried a few minutes ago. Her 'restlessness was over', or so she thought.
▪️ What does this have to do with today's lesson..Uprooting Restlessness?
👉🏾 Well, Christ offers the perfect 'vaccine' for uprooting restlessness!
"... many who profess to be His followers have an anxious, troubled heart, because they are afraid to trust themselves with God.They do not make a complete surrender to Him; for they shrink from the consequences that such a surrender may involve. Unless they do make this surrender, they cannot find peace." {DA 330.3}
In Matthew 11:28-29 Christ beckons us, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."
🌻"Sometimes outward peace will be hard to find, but God promises to give inward peace. He will be there to quiet our troubled souls, when our life is anything but peaceful." (Gerald & Chantal Klingbeil, Teachers SS Quarterly)
🙂 Yes, Christ 'vaccination' does not require a needle, an appointment, neither a line. Have you gotten it yet?
Have a blessed day!