Faith's "Not Doing"

S - Exodus 23:10-12 (NLT): ““Plant and harvest your crops for six years, but let the land rest and lie fallow during the seventh year. Then let the poor among you harvest any volunteer crop that may come up. Leave the rest for the animals to eat. The same applies to your vineyards and olive groves. "Work for six days, and rest on the seventh. This will give your ox and your donkey a chance to rest. It will also allow the people of your household, including your slaves and visitors, to be refreshed."

O - Refreshed, care for the poor, faith expressed in concrete, daily bread realities, the Lord's provision apparent to all, his goodness seen in the land of the living, his mercy for all demonstrated, not to mention excellent soil conservation.  All this hinges upon the compliance to believe the Lord by not doing.  This is an essential quality for a life of faith. The problems with these particular faith expressions include:

1. not doing something which is normally required.

2. intentionally risking the future by not doing something one can easily do in the here and now.

3. no apparent penalty for those who refuse to comply.  No one immediately drops dead by working on the Sabbath and no one's crops refuse to grow when planted in the seventh year.

This particular problem set is not reserved to historic Israel.  In fact, all followers of Jesus will be required to engage their faith with these dynamics in full swing.  As the Father's children we are told to not run after the things the pagans run after--daily bread, what to wear, what to store-up for the future, though these items are both lawful and at some point necessary.  Not gaining more or doing more can be quite difficult. It is at this precise point Jesus will call us to recognize the importance of learning this mode of living faith.  He says (Luke 14:26; 17:33) “If you want to be my follower you must love me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters--yes, more than your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. … Whoever clings to this life will lose it, and whoever loses this life will save it."  Israel never did rest the land and they misunderstood and misused the Sabbath instruction.  Both ended in severe consequences … which of course is how most sin (not obeying) works.  There is little immediate consequence but long term devastation.  Jesus has come to lead us to life.  It is very good for us to take him at his word.

A - These not doing dynamics are very tricky to our human minds and to those around us.  Like Peter, it is very easy for me, in lawful and necessary terms, to have in mind the things of men and not the things of God (cf. Matthew 16:23-24). The result is a tragic conclusion which looks absolutely beautiful at first glance.  In this season of new wineskins, mulberry trees in the ocean, of believing for things too wonderful for me and of waiting upon the Lord, these dynamics are apparent and very challenging.  Taking Jesus at his word most often comes down to simple trust in his person - the fierce personal loyalty which he deserves and which lives out loud in taking him at his word.  To this I am giving myself heart and soul because I've given my very little self unconditionally to him.

P - Lord who Rests,

You are awesome.  You rest not because you must or because you tire but because it is a part of your image and nature.  Even your resting is productive, beautiful, life giving, powerful and compassionate.  Lord, I do (and want to) take you at your word and live out loud the words of Peter - Lord, because you say so I will ….  Help me to embrace the dynamics which a living faith requires and which you honor with more than things obtained or goals reached -- but in which you reveal yourself to those who are following.  Dear Lord Jesus, please keep revealing the Father to me/us so that his love for you may be in us and that you will be in us.  Yes, Lord … my answer remains yes.

Steve