After Holy Week
June 1, 2011
Bible Reading: “If you have run with footmen and they have tired you out, then how can you compete with horses? If you fall down in a land of peace, How will you do in the thicket of the Jordan?”–Jeremiah 12:5!
Bonus Readings: 1 Cor 9:24 ; Heb 12:1; Isaiah 40; Gal 5:1; Numbers 11:4-6
Holy Week…the best week of the year. No wonder the Church has done it for so long. It rocks! Compelling devotions. Real, Spirit-filled open-heart surgery…a chance to re-blue ourselves in the fullness God has for us. No wonder we work at it so hard. It’s a great opportunity to touch Him…and be touched in return. To really “rend our hearts and not our garments.” Do some business with God. We had a great one this year…wonderful services. Ancient worship met Holy Ghost fire. The week’s capstone was Easter Sunday–glorious. Then…
…we had a “low week”—a quiet time in the parish. Reflection, family time, giving the staff a breather, and a collective chance to digest the concentrated devotions of Holy Week and Easter. Problem is, some of us have continued “resting.” Not God’s plan for His Church Militant. We’ve gotta be tougher than that. God needs endurance athletes.
Since God hasn’t stopped speaking and working, and His Word teaches us that He never changes, then maybe we’ve lost interest, or we’ve been distracted. Why?
BACK TO SLAVERY?
Here’s a clue from history showing the great civilizations of the world have averaged about 200 years. It’s a timetable where the people go:
- From slavery to spiritual faith
- From spiritual faith to courage
- From courage to liberty
- From liberty to abundance
- From abundance to selfishness
- From selfishness to apathy
- From apathy to dependence
- From dependence back to slavery
St. Paul to the Galatians wrote (by the Spirit), “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” If we’ve really been freed and given God’s abundance, then the only answer is that we lost lock on His Kingdom, becoming entangled again in our own interests. Natural tendency…completely understandable. For the Christian, however, this might mean we are not walking after the Spirit, but in our flesh…our old, fallen nature. Suiting ourselves. I know…that’s gonna leave a mark. Did on me.
Are we sure?
We need to be certain we haven’t slipped into the historical cycle. After all, that’s where Satan wants us…dependent on our flesh and making our way in life according to it’s desires. He certainly doesn’t want God’s people to have lives of spiritual discipline, full of the Word, washed in the Blood, and following the Spirit as they walk. But, if we’re not well-conditioned, the truth is, we can faint, as Isaiah describes. So, how do we stay in spiritual shape?
No Sprints
When I was a youngster, I ran track for a season or two…my event was the mile. I learned early on not to be caught in the trap of starting too fast…couldn’t keep the pace. Setting your pace for the whole mile was the ticket and never missing a workout. That’s the way for our journey with the Lord. Staying on pace. Working out in HIm regularly, in fellowship and discipleship with Him and His people, and not just doing “our thing” and leaving–or, worse yet, stopping into His Presence and/or parish only occasionally. God intends His people to extend themselves beyond their own flesh and be part of the community, worshipping, eating and studying together. Family never stops.
Beloved, let me coach you a bit. Once a year at Holy Week isn’t enough, just like once a week for an hour or so on Sunday won’t give us the conditioning we need. We can’t run well…and won’t be able to stand well in the tough times. Truth is, we must have training for when we really need a relationship with HIm in the tough times…when His name is the Strong Tower we run to for safety. That’s the time for sprints. But, we train over the long haul to make that sprint, when needed. This brings me to our action points…
Stay Free
If the Lord has set us free—stay there! Don’t fall back into the traps of business, distraction, apathy, or other bondages. He wants to see you grow in HIm, His Spirit, and in the community of His people. That’s gonna require some effort on our parts…and some mutual encouragement and accountability. Remember the Word says one man improves another, as iron sharpens iron.
What do I do?
Be a regular part of Bible study, prayer, and worship beyond Sunday morning mass. Make spiritual growth a priority—pack the Word away by study and spend time with God daily. Give back a little in outreach, such as feeding the poor. Be part of a parish ministry, like Greeting, Altar Guild, Flower Guild, Layreaders/Acolytes, Sunday School, Outreach, Men’s/Women’s Groups, Prayer Intercession, Choir, or Vacation Bible School. Talk to your Vestry leaders about helping with projects around the parish. Call the office to help with administration. In short, be involved!
Think about it: “People believe in God but live as if he doesn’t exist.” – The Christian Atheist, by Craig Groeschel
Pray about it: “Do I say I believe in God but still live as if everything was up to me?”
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