Going from school to summer this year has been a major adjustment. I haven't lived at home for longer than a month since I went away to school two years ago. There are times when the Lord calls us to periods of rest and my time is now. You would think I would take this gift cheerfully but watching two family members go to New Orleans this week to help with hurricane reconstruction has been hard. I desperately need this time but abiding in Him has definitely become a struggle.
I've been reading in John recently and am about two-thirds of the way through; specifically, chapters 12-14 which describe the week before the crucifixion and the last supper. Knowing that he was leaving this earth, Jesus repeatedly demonstrates the ultimate example of abiding with the Father: "He who sees me sees the one who sent me" (John 12:45). Then, in chapter 13, "Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside his garments; and taking a towel, He…began to wash the disciples' feet." (John 13:3-5).
There are many times when God doesn't call us to do spectacular things, but rather to consistently obey him in seemingly inconsequential matters. Oswald Chambers writes:
"Drudgery is the test of genuine character. The greatest hindrance in our spiritual life is that we will only look for big things to do. Yet Jesus took a towel and began to wash the disciples' feet…I must realize that my obedience even in the smallest detail of life has all of the omnipotent power of the grace of God behind it. If I will do my duty, not for duty's sake but because I believe God is engineering my circumstances, then at the very point of my obedience all of the magnificent grace of God is mine through the glorious atonement by the cross of Christ."
Obedience is a hard thing and consistency is even harder. God called Peter to the presumably simple task of claiming Jesus as Lord. Peter failed not once but three times and Jesus still called him "a rock" (Matt. 16:18). From one who has been there, we can take comfort from his words: "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires (2 Peter 1:3-4).
