Acts 20:13,
"And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in
Paul: for so had he appointed, mindful himself to go afoot."
This morning, living in our fast-paced world at times seems to suffocate and
smother every drop of time in our lives. Have you ever had days or weeks when
you turned around and they were gone? Has life at times seemed to push to the
point of ceaseless waves of activities and other things to occupy the mind? Has
there ever been, at different times and seasons, such a busy time in the Lord
and His service that some of the "feel" had been lost? Man will commonly lose
that "special feeling" about something if done without respite. Of course, the
answer to the last question about being tired and weary in service to God is not
to absent from Him for a while, but when dealing with the hustle and bustle of
life, how do we cope with worn-down nerves and mental thoughts, even when worn
down after a Godly fashion?
One of the most clear injunctions of the New Testament is that God comes first
with everything that we have. In Matthew 22, Christ calls this the first and
greatest commandment. Undoubtedly, the magnitude of serving the Lord with
fulness and heartiness is unequivocally laid out. Yet, even though serving the
Lord with all of our heart, soul, mind, and might is His due from us, He
understands that we do have physical needs of rest and repose that must be met.
As one that has felt of the same, He understands that we cannot be at the house
of God indefinitely (though there have been some meetings in my life where I
would have liked to try). But, even when we need to "relax" somewhat from the
strains and pressures of life's activities, He can and should be found during
the moments of quiet and peace.
While not all non-carnal/non-sinful relaxing activity is of the spiritual
sort, how does one engage in spiritual downtime? Let us notice first the context
of our verse above. For the past several chapters in Acts, we read of endless
activity in the life of the Apostle Paul. At the start of Acts 16, he is seeking
where to go preach, and finally sees in a vision where he should go. Acts 17
sees him (after being imprisoned at Philippi) dealing with very superstitious
people in Athens. Acts 18 sees him spending a great deal of time at Corinth and
Ephesus, and finally Acts 19 starts his purposeful journey back to Jerusalem. In
all of these things, his life has been in jeopardy repeatedly, he has preached
and laboured abundantly, and Acts 20 starts off again on his journeys right
after a "mad mob town session."
Paul has been a long time now labouring for the cause of Christ, suffering many
things for His name's sake, and observing the working of the Holy Spirit among
the people that he has been sent to preach the gospel unto. The early verses of
Acts 20 describe in detail who went with Paul during this portion of the journey
(Verse 4). While in their travels, Paul engages an "all night sermon" or at
least a "half night sermon." He preaches till midnight, raises a congregant back
to life that fell asleep out of the loft to hit the floor dead, and then talked
until the break of day (Verses 7-12). Knowing how taxing one hour of preaching
can be on the body - particularly the voice - consider how tired Paul must have
been after preaching and then speaking that long. With an already tired body
from these other journeys, what taxation he must have felt!
If you were to be in Paul's shoes after the "all night meeting," what would you
want to do? Being physically drained and mentally taxed, what would be the first
order of business? Sleep would probably be a very common answer (and good sleep
is nothing to be condemned). Food and quiet relaxation would be high on the list
for others (again nothing to be condemned). Notice what Paul does after all of
this. He impresses all those travelling companions of his to enter the ship and
meet him further down the coast. He decides to walk on foot while they enjoy the
rest of a boat ride! After such punishing schedules, what could be the point of
such an exercise?
Quite often, situations like Paul finished after the all night meeting hang
heavy on the mind not allowing for good sleep or restful repose. When I
experience these moments, one of the best things to recharge the batteries as it
were is to find alone and quiet time with the Lord to chew and meditate on what
I have recently experienced. During a weekend meeting, I enjoy a good walk to
contemplate all the rich food that I have received at God's house. When in quiet
solitude and contemplation, I have the opportunity to "talk with God" in a way
that I do not when in company of others. Notice that Paul was not removing
himself from the rabble of worldly rioters. Rather, he was removing himself from
the very Godly companions that suffered and laboured with him.
Christ also engaged a similar attitude when He concluded the miracle of the
feeding of the 5,000. He constrains His disciples to get in a ship, while He
departs alone - away from both His disciples and the multitude - into a mountain
to pray. (Matthew 14) This "alone time" allows not only the meditation on all
that has gone before, but also to walk with God, much like Enoch may have done
before His translation. (Hebrews 11:5, Genesis 5:24) Sometimes our friends might
think it strange to want to be alone, but these "down times" are not trod alone.
Rather, they are sweet moments of peaceful solitude with God lifting the
heaviness and weariness that we feel.
Doubtless Paul slept again in his life (probably after entering the boat), and
Christ doubtless ate and drank again after rejoining His disciples. Yet,
sometimes these rich experiences, draining though they may be mentally, need to
be followed with a walk with God away from everyone else. Quite often, I see
preachers (knowing they are going to preach) want to walk alone and apart from
everyone else. While that sometimes is my course, I often seek solitude after
services and times of spiritual visitation from on high to speak quietly with
God,allowing the body the rest and the mind the peace that it needs.
Friends, life will do its dead-level best to crowd out the things of God, but
may we never let it be so. Sometimes spiritual service can drain the faculties
to the point of loss of feeling and mental freshness. Whatever the reason for
the drain, may we seek some "down time" by stealing away to talk with our God,
feel His warm embrace, and hear the gentle whisper of peace in our ear that
calms our fears and rejuvenates our person. Yes, there will be times to
fellowship with our fellow pilgrims and strangers again. There will be times to
actively pursue natural rest, and certainly there will be times of fervent and
hearty worship of God in His house once more. However, may we perceive and seize
upon the moments to depart with God alone and walk with Him for a while.
I love to steal
awhile away
From every cumbering care,
And spend the hours of setting day
In humble, grateful, prayer.
I love in solitude to shed
The penitential tear,
And all His promises to plead
Where none but God can hear.
I love to think on mercies past,
And future good implore,
And all my cares and sorrows cast
On Him, whom I adore.
I love by faith to take a view
Of brighter scenes in heaven;
The prospect doth my strength renew,
While here by tempests driven.
Thus, when life’s toilsome day is o’er,
May its departing ray,
Be calm as this impressive hour,
And lead to endless day.
In Hope,
Bro Philip
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