Too Tired to Think ... Too Tired to Do
What if you get up in the morning and don't want to do the things that you have gotten used to? What if your whole focus was on rolling back over under the covers and going back to sleep? What if you were unwilling to get up and greet the Lord and the new morning? What if you are just too tired to do anything? That is pretty much how I have felt some mornings, but after approaching the Word of God, even for a short time, I have felt invigorated. Why is that? Jesus indicated something different about why He was here:
[John 4:34] Jesus *said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work."
You might think that this is a metaphor and not really part of this life, but let's examine the evidence. Let's start with a premise: Do His will, accomplish His work - that is food, that is life. Why are we here? According to the Westminster Shorter Catechism:
Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
Q. 2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?
A. The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.
Q. 3. What do the Scriptures principally teach?
A. The Scriptures principally teach, what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.
I kind of like this compression of a wonderful idea presented in scripture, because it makes it easier to expound on what scripture says. The key thing is glorify and enjoy God through our belief and our duty to Him. In effect this is like the main thing to concentrate on, so in effect this becomes our food, the thing that sustains us. Haven't you ever wondered how Moses survived for so long (40 days/40 nights) on Mount Sinai in the presence of the Lord? How he was built up as he stayed and received instruction from God himself? God sustained him because he was doing His will.
[Prov 6:23] "For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life."
It would appear that the way of life is through the Word of God. It keeps us on the straight and narrow, so that we neither stumble or fall. It is always important to do the right thing at the right time. How do we know this? We rely on God's leading and God's timing in our lives. We don't trust in ourselves because we can be easily led astray by our own lusts.
[Psalm 55:22] "Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you;
He will never allow the righteous to be shaken."
[Isaiah 50:4] "The Lord *GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples,
That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word.
He awakens Me morning by morning,
He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.
[5] The Lord GOD has opened My ear;
And I was not disobedient
Nor did I turn back."
[Prov 4:20] "My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
[21] Do not let them depart from your sight;
Keep them in the midst of your heart.
[22] For they are life to those who find them
And health to all *their body.
[23] Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life."
I feel better already.
- LW
[John 4:34] Jesus *said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work."
You might think that this is a metaphor and not really part of this life, but let's examine the evidence. Let's start with a premise: Do His will, accomplish His work - that is food, that is life. Why are we here? According to the Westminster Shorter Catechism:
Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
Q. 2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?
A. The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.
Q. 3. What do the Scriptures principally teach?
A. The Scriptures principally teach, what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.
I kind of like this compression of a wonderful idea presented in scripture, because it makes it easier to expound on what scripture says. The key thing is glorify and enjoy God through our belief and our duty to Him. In effect this is like the main thing to concentrate on, so in effect this becomes our food, the thing that sustains us. Haven't you ever wondered how Moses survived for so long (40 days/40 nights) on Mount Sinai in the presence of the Lord? How he was built up as he stayed and received instruction from God himself? God sustained him because he was doing His will.
[Prov 6:23] "For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life."
It would appear that the way of life is through the Word of God. It keeps us on the straight and narrow, so that we neither stumble or fall. It is always important to do the right thing at the right time. How do we know this? We rely on God's leading and God's timing in our lives. We don't trust in ourselves because we can be easily led astray by our own lusts.
[Psalm 55:22] "Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you;
He will never allow the righteous to be shaken."
[Isaiah 50:4] "The Lord *GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples,
That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word.
He awakens Me morning by morning,
He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.
[5] The Lord GOD has opened My ear;
And I was not disobedient
Nor did I turn back."
[Prov 4:20] "My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
[21] Do not let them depart from your sight;
Keep them in the midst of your heart.
[22] For they are life to those who find them
And health to all *their body.
[23] Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life."
I feel better already.
- LW