Feb 13 2009
Friday Fotos: The Unforced Rhythms of Grace & Focus People
“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 11:28-30
Last week I was at the Midwinter conference for Covenant ministers and I was drawn to this text in one of the workshops. I breathed deeply and found myself enveloped in a deep, abiding peace that I have not felt for some time. I felt these beautiful words from The Message were for me but I simultaneously felt they were for the people I am seeking to reach with the Gospel. Why? Let me explain.
God so deeply wants focus people to know the unforced rhythms of grace. He does for all of us but it seems that focus people have so little chance of hearing this good news for 2 main reasons. First, there are so few who have sought to tell them. It is amazing to contemplate but the people I am speaking about have a measly 6% of the all the resources the church brings to bear in sharing the good news of Jesus. Six percent for a rather large swath of humanity.
Second, the worldview and faith system of these people is empty of grace. So much of their system is based on works and performance. I keep finding expression of this reality when I spend time with my new friends. But God so wants all people to know his love and grace. He is unwilling that any would remain in the dark.
Here is another interesting factoid. Researchers have discovered that “dreams and visions” factor in the story of a full 2/3′s of focus people in becoming followers of Christ. A flesh and blood ambassador like you and me are few and far between. That reminds me of the passage where the story of the Pharisees are asking Jesus to silence his disciples when entering Jerusalem in his last days. His followers are cheering and Jesus says, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out!” (Luke 19:39-40).
I wonder what kind of movement to Christ among focus people we would find if more of the so called Christ followers, people like you and me, bore witness to the “unforced rhythms of grace” in their midst?
2 responses so far
I like the phrase “unforced rhythms of grace.” And what you say here. We have to bear witness to the grace of God in Jesus, and we need to learn to live in this rhythm well ourselves. We bear witness not only to a good news from God, but a testimony in word and from our lives that it is real and the truth through Jesus.
I’m sure that conference was quite good, but we long for Spring in this part of the world (I’m not too far from Chicago).
Ted, thanks for your kind comments. This phrase is directly from Eugene Peterson in the message. I think this is his paraphrase of the “easy yoke.” Regardless, it profoundly spoke to me when I heard it and I seek to remain in this mindset and heart attitude. Bless you for your generous and gracious feedback. Where in the Chicago area are you?