Remaining in Christ: Balancing Mission and Spiritual Health

Devotional

Day 1: Balancing Mission and Spiritual Health

In the Christian journey, the Great Commission and the Great Commandment are not opposing forces but complementary guides. The Great Commission calls believers to make disciples, while the Great Commandment urges them to love God and others. These principles are meant to coexist, ensuring that actions are rooted in a deep love for God and others. This balance is essential for a spiritually healthy life, as it prevents the pursuit of mission from overshadowing the importance of love and spiritual well-being. By integrating these principles, believers can live a life that is both missional and loving, reflecting the heart of Jesus. [05:15]

"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35, ESV)

Reflection: How can you intentionally balance your efforts in sharing the gospel with acts of love and compassion in your daily interactions today?

Day 2: True Growth in Christ

Growth is often misunderstood, as both healthy and unhealthy things can grow. True growth, according to Jesus, comes from remaining in Him, the true vine. This connection is not passive but requires an active, persistent relationship, ensuring that lives bear fruit that glorifies God. By staying connected to Jesus, believers can discern between growth that is spiritually beneficial and growth that is not. This understanding helps in nurturing a life that is fruitful in ways that align with God's purposes, rather than being swayed by worldly measures of success. [07:19]

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." (John 15:4, ESV)

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to deepen your connection with Jesus, ensuring that your growth is rooted in Him?

Day 3: The Rule of Life

A "rule of life" is a framework that helps believers stay connected to Jesus. It involves prioritizing prayer, rest, relationships, and work, ensuring that lives are aligned with spiritual values. This intentionality prevents individuals from being swayed by cultural pressures and helps maintain a focus on what truly matters. By crafting a personal rule of life, believers can create a structure that supports their spiritual growth and keeps Jesus at the center of their daily activities. This framework acts as a trellis, providing the necessary support for a fruitful spiritual life. [09:38]

"Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord!" (Lamentations 3:40, ESV)

Reflection: What elements would you include in your personal rule of life to ensure that your daily activities align with your spiritual values?

Day 4: The Importance of Rest

In a world driven by performance and achievement, rest is a divine commandment that allows believers to experience God's love. It is a crucial part of spiritual health, reminding individuals of their identity in Christ and providing the space to reconnect with Him. Rest is not merely the absence of work but a deliberate act of trust in God's provision and care. By prioritizing rest, believers can find renewal and strength, enabling them to engage in their mission with a refreshed spirit and a clear focus on God's purposes. [15:05]

"For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, 'In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.'" (Isaiah 30:15, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate intentional rest into your schedule this week to experience God's love and renewal?

Day 5: Finding Security in Jesus

The Apostle Paul's declaration that "to live is Christ and to die is gain" highlights the ultimate security and purpose found in Jesus. This perspective shifts the focus from worldly success to what truly matters in life. Remaining in Jesus ensures that lives are rooted in eternal values, providing a sense of security and purpose that transcends earthly achievements. By aligning priorities with Christ's teachings, believers can avoid the trap of succeeding at things that don't matter and instead invest in what has lasting significance. [32:05]

"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself striving for success in things that may not matter eternally? How can you realign your focus to find security in Jesus today?

Sermon Summary

In our journey through the series "Emotionally Healthy Mission," we have explored the delicate balance between being missional and maintaining spiritual health. Today, we conclude by delving into the profound teachings of Jesus in John 15, where He describes Himself as the true vine and us as the branches. This metaphor emphasizes the necessity of remaining connected to Jesus to bear fruit in our lives. The Great Commission calls us to make disciples, while the Great Commandment urges us to love God and others. These two principles are not mutually exclusive but are meant to coexist, guiding us to be both missional and loving.

The concept of growth is often misunderstood. While healthy things grow, so do unhealthy things like weeds and disease. True growth, as Jesus teaches, is about remaining in Him, the life source. This connection is not passive but requires an active, persistent relationship, akin to a vine's connection to its roots. The trellis, a structure that supports the vine, symbolizes the framework we need in our lives to stay connected to Jesus. Historically, this has been referred to as a "rule of life," a conscious plan to prioritize prayer, rest, relationships, and work, ensuring that Jesus remains at the center.

Prayer is not just a monologue but a living relationship with God, involving listening and silence. Rest, often neglected in our busy lives, is a divine commandment that allows us to experience God's love. Relationships, too, must be prioritized, reflecting our true values. Work, while important, should not overshadow our spiritual commitments. Eugene Peterson's insight that "you are busy because you are lazy" challenges us to prioritize what truly matters.

Remaining in Jesus promises that we will bear much fruit, not necessarily in worldly success but in lasting, meaningful ways. This requires intentionality, crafting a rule of life that aligns our actions with our values. The sobering reality is that without this connection, we risk withering away. Our greatest fear should not be failure but succeeding at things that don't matter. The Apostle Paul's declaration, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain," encapsulates the ultimate security and purpose found in Jesus alone. May we strive to remain in Him, finding our deepest contentment and joy.

Key Takeaways

1. Balancing Mission and Health: The Great Commission and the Great Commandment are not opposing forces but complementary guides for our lives. We are called to be both missional and loving, ensuring that our actions are rooted in a deep love for God and others. This balance is essential for a spiritually healthy life. [05:15]
2. True Growth in Christ: Growth is not inherently good or bad; it depends on its source. Jesus teaches that true growth comes from remaining in Him, the true vine. This connection requires an active, persistent relationship, ensuring that our lives bear fruit that glorifies God. [07:19]
3. The Rule of Life: A "rule of life" is a framework that helps us stay connected to Jesus. It involves prioritizing prayer, rest, relationships, and work, ensuring that our lives are aligned with our spiritual values. This intentionality prevents us from being swayed by cultural pressures. [09:38]
4. The Importance of Rest: In a world driven by performance and achievement, rest is a divine commandment that allows us to experience God's love. It is a crucial part of our spiritual health, reminding us of our identity in Christ and providing the space to reconnect with Him. [15:05]
5. Finding Security in Jesus: The Apostle Paul's declaration that "to live is Christ and to die is gain" highlights the ultimate security and purpose found in Jesus. Our greatest fear should not be failure but succeeding at things that don't matter. Remaining in Jesus ensures that our lives are rooted in what truly matters. [32:05]
** [32:05]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:30] - Introduction to Emotionally Healthy Mission
[03:45] - The Great Commission and Great Commandment
[05:15] - The True Vine and Bearing Fruit
[07:19] - Understanding True Growth
[08:40] - The Trellis and Rule of Life
[09:38] - Historical Context of Rule of Life
[13:07] - Prioritizing Prayer and Relationships
[15:05] - The Significance of Rest
[16:42] - Evaluating Our Priorities
[17:44] - The Challenge of Busyness
[19:25] - The Promise of Bearing Fruit
[21:56] - Crafting a Personal Rule of Life
[23:04] - The Role of Silence and Solitude
[25:44] - Balancing Being and Doing
[26:33] - The True Vine as Our Life Source
[29:43] - The Danger of Misplaced Priorities
[31:01] - The Grace of Realignment
[32:05] - Finding Security in Jesus

Sermon Clips

"Whether it's in a relationship or in this metaphor, it's a vine that's being connected to the vine. And what Jesus is basically encouraging the people to do, he says, do you recognize to bear fruit, you actually have to stay connected to your life source. And if you don't stay connected to your life source, what ends up happening is you might wither and end up getting thrown out." [00:06:23] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Prayer is not just one -way communication, me just talking to God, and God, this is what I need. Please give me this, like some vending machine God. Instead, prayer is actually a living relationship. It requires silence, listening. It's like, I mean, could you imagine having a relationship with someone that they just talked all the time? Some of you are like, I can't actually imagine that, and it's awful." [00:12:07] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Rest is a way of connecting with the love of God. Isn't that interesting? Some of you maybe, like, rest. You're like, we're in New York City. I moved to this city because it's the city that never sleeps. I moved here so I could get my favorite sandwich at 1 a .m. I mean, why would I even need to rest? Well, I mean, the beautiful thing about God is that even in the Ten Commandments, the fourth commandment is to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy." [00:14:26] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Jesus says, if you remain in me and I in you, he says, you will bear much fruit. High five your neighbor and say, you will bear much fruit. I mean, isn't this beautiful? He doesn't say you might. He doesn't say like, oh, like if you remain in me, like, well, you could have spent more time working on your profit and loss in your company. Like, that may have been a better decision for you. No, do you see what he's saying? He's saying, you will bear much fruit." [00:19:03] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"The Apostle Paul, he writes to the church, he writes to the church in Philippi. Look at what he says. Look at this approach to life. Such a stunning claim. Look at what he says. He says, for to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Whoa. I mean, Paul basically says, he's like, I am so secure in the love of God. I am so secure in my life's purpose that whether I live, or whether I die, I have Jesus. If I have Jesus, I have everything." [00:33:02] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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