Act In Faith, Rest In Faith
LENT 2024 | DAY 6
Mark 3:1-19 (NIV)
(Foo Yu Da, Chairperson, Witness & Evangelism)
“Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath…He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored” (verses 2 and 5).
In the marketplace, do I dare do what is right in God’s eyes despite clear opposition? An example could be a situation where I am forced to consider compromising the fairness to a customer in exchange for a more profitable transaction. Should I refuse to do the right thing that puts myself at risk of missing business targets and losing the favour of the organisation, or should I simply “close one eye” and go with the flow? The latter is often the easier option.
But what encourages me from this passage is not just that Jesus did what was right, but He also did it knowing it would put Himself at risk of persecution. Some decisions can be emotionally difficult to make, but Jesus has set me an example to follow in His footsteps. How else can I be salt and light, be the change that God wants me to be in the world, and bring my colleagues and friends one step closer to Jesus?
The passage also serves as an important reminder to me that in the midst of the hustle and bustle in our careers, family, and ministry, it is important to “withdraw” in order to rest and connect with God. “Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the lake…[and] because of the crowd He told his disciples to have a small boat ready for Him, to keep the people from crowding Him” (verses 7 and 9). I have to constantly remind myself never to compromise rest. I have learnt that the urge to constantly agree to every request and the guilt that comes with saying “no” has great negative consequences to my spirit. The fatigue and being on the verge of burnout is a serious reminder to take rest and sabbath seriously.
And so I end my devotion with two key personal takeaways: (1) trust in God and act in faith according to His character so that I can be salt and light, bringing people closer to God, and (2) trust in God and rest in faith.
DISCUSSION POINTERS:
1. What do you see as your purpose in the workplace?
2. Based on this purpose, what are areas you want to be more aware of and/or want to change?
3. What do you need to do to keep the discipline of rest?
