Time out for God's Grace
When it’s “Time-Out” for Grace
by Aaron Schulman11-14-10
Whether you have raised a two year old or not, you have most likely heard of “time-out”. Time out is a great discipline as soon as children understand what it means, and as long as it is used in good measure and appropriately. Time-out is great for a child as soon as the child is old enough to know it is a negative consequence, and is a very effective way to help a small child understand rules and boundaries. When I first discovered the power of time out, it was a miracle.
Grace would act up and I first threatened a “time-out” and followed through. The biggest most important part of this process, of course, is follow through- leaving her in time out for not much more than a minute of isolation in her play pen, without any of her little fuzzy stuffed friends. As she has quickly learned, daddy is not afraid to use “time-out” when Grace is acting up, not listening, or getting close to endangering herself. In fact, she is now so familiar with “time-out” that often the mention of it will get her to listen and settle down, or to stop approaching the behavior that we are not accepting as good or safe. However, Grace sometimes still need the follow through of an appropriate “time-out” and it helps her to come out of her fits and to respect mom and myself when she is getting out of hand.
On a recent bout of “time-out”, it dawned on me that there were parallels to Gracie’s “time-out” and the “time-out” I get with God. When I am not adequately getting my “time-out” to quiet myself and just soak up His presence, or to spill my thoughts and heart, or to worship and pray, I often become more and more unsettled and dissatisfied with life. In fact, how can we truly enjoy or hope to experience any significant level of true life without adequate and frequent “time-out” with God? It is impossible.
In John 10:10, Jesus said that he came to give us life and give it more abundantly. However, our concept of Abundant life and His are probably not always in alignment. We may think of abundant life as monetary riches, traveling, eating out, having parties with friends, getting all of my wants fulfilled, etc. etc - yet scripture is clear that we think very differently than God does. In fact, it says:
"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9 NIV)
While we are sometimes thinking that abundant life means a certain thing or a certain status or a obtaining a certain level of lifestyle, or connecting with certain relationships, all of this may be a part of the fruit of it or the process- yet abundant life must be truly rooted in abiding in Life itself- or Himself - as He is Life:
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6 NIV)
Because Jesus is Life embodied, true life cannot be lived and enjoyed to the full outside of Christ. We can experience tastes of fun, joy, and even fruits of the spirit through believers, yet we cannot experience true life without Christ. Though we all experience tastes and seasons of God’s goodness in life, whether believers or non-believers, we cannot experience abundant life if we are not getting adequate “time-out” with and in Him. It is impossible.
In fact, the more I reflected on Grace’s “time-out”, and what it did to her mood and emotions and her re-joining the regular family times with more peace and unity, I could not help but think that frequent episodes of “time-out” are even better for us as believers. Gracie’s “time-outs” would give her a chance to realize that what she was doing was wrong and not going to be tolerated, yet the Holy Spirit does not necessarily use this kind of time out to relate to her the same way we can relate to Him when we get our necessary “time-out”. When we take “time-out” to be in His presence, or just commune and quiet ourselves, we will find much more fruit than a disciplined “time-out” for a two year old.
In fact, the spiritual disciplines of “time-out” can lose their fruit and appeal if they continue to be done day after day for the sake of discipline, and not for the sake of growing more in love with the Savior. Much like our spiritual life, if we simply relate to God on a religious and dutiful level, we end up being in danger of killing the heart out of obligation. Instead we should learn to dive into the richness and the lavish love that Christ has for us in order to learn to eagerly seek our “time-out” that we can experience more and more of the abundant life-sap that we get when we abide.
Just like a branch of a vine- if it gets disconnected for too long from the nourishment of the vine, it will shrivel and lose its replenishment of life - it’s source and supply. When we get too wrapped up in our work, busyness of church duties, people-pleasing and running ourselves beyond our capacity - we may put on a good show and hold a good face, yet we are not gaining any more fruit than one who acts from the freedom and fluidity of abiding. The next time you have a chance to run or to take a “time-out” remember that taking quiet time with Christ is essential to living a joyful, abundant and fruitful life. We cannot manufacture any of it by striving and doing and missing our much needed “time-out”.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5 NIV)
Because of God’s extravagant grace, we are permitted to approach the throne of Grace, to have a relationship with a loving and Holy God, and to grow in the likeness of Him through investing in more “time-out” from the busyness of what we call”life”, in order to be filled with the One who is Life.
Questions to consider:
When was the last time you got some “time-out” with the Lord?
If Christ had to frequently spend “time-out” from the noise in order to maintain connection with the Father, how can we expect that we need less? His model showed us that spending time with the Father was as important to our lives and hearts as water and food are for the body.
When have you experienced abundant life from getting adequate “time-out” with God?
When have you experienced “burn-out” and other strong evidences that you were too far and infrequent with your “vine-time”? Are you experiencing this now? Perhaps it is time to begin prioritizing more “time-out” so that the rest of your life can come into a better perspective, and so that there is more life spilling out of you blessing others as opposed to dryness and residue.
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