Wise Words Unforced Rhythms of Grace
Focus less on performing for God and more on developing a relationship with Him.
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me, and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” -Matthew 11:38-30 The Message Bible
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By Chaplain Sam Ed Spence, Race Track Chaplaincy of Texas
acing is a demanding life for a horse. While most racehorses receive excellent care and attention, they must perform to a cer- tain standard to remain in the racing stable. Otherwise, they’re sold, repurposed or turned out to pasture. A great deal of religion is the same way. Religion says you must perform to be accepted by God, and you must continue to perform at a certain level to remain
in His stable. But that’s not what Jesus said. In the passage above from the Gospel of Matthew in The Message translation, Jesus makes it very clear that He is a great deal more interested in a relationship with us than our performance. In fact, He says that if we’ll just keep close company with Him, He will show us how to accomplish far more in the midst of a rest, rather than in the per- formance pressures of religion and the world. I don’t know about you, but that really whets my appetite to hobnob a bunch with this Jesus!
He’s not saying to just lie down, get lazy and be some kind of flake. On the contrary, God’s word reveals that He has a very active, fulfilling, and pro- ductive plan for each of our lives. However, He is say- ing that the true and optimum productivity will come by our submitting to His working through us, turning our lives over to Him to rest in Him. That’s what grace is all about; it’s much more than
“the unmerited favor of God,” a definition generally accepted in Christian circles. Grace is the very ability of God—His power and wisdom that He makes avail- able to every individual that has accepted Jesus Christ in their heart. God has given natural gifts to each of us, but they’ll only take us so far. We generally come to the end of our own ability in rapid order; that’s why we need to learn the unforced rhythms of grace—God’s way of doing things—in order to enjoy that “free-and-light” lifestyle that Jesus has designed for us. We don’t have to perform to be in God’s stable.
Simply enjoy the green pastures and still water where He leads us.
Sam Ed Spence is a special contributor for Paint Horse Racing. To comment on this article, email
feedback@apha.com.
6 MAY 2013
PAINT HORSE RACING
APHA FILE PHOTO
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