The Secret to Abiding in Christ
Think about the way your recent conversations have started.
“How are you?”
“Oh, just busy. You know how it is . . .”
Sound familiar?
At the time of this writing, this was the opening of the last conversation I had with a friend. Not only is this not a great answer to the question of “how are you?” but it’s also incredibly saddening because, for most of us, it’s all too true. We’re incredibly busy. We’re also incredibly exhausted deep within our souls.
When was the last time you weren’t busy? When was the last time you stopped and delighted in the fact that God runs the world and you don’t? When was the last time you were present to a moment without thinking about “the next thing” on your schedule?
I don’t ask these questions to incite any type of busy-shaming. Instead, I aim to challenge us to join others in pinpointing the cultural pervasiveness of busy-ness in our society. If we are to truly “abide in the vine” as Jesus speaks about in John 15, then the problem of busy-ness is a hindrance.
I also ask these questions to examine our current processes for discipleship. When writing about the role of the church in discipleship, Dallas Willard asked two vital questions: “What is our plan for making disciples? Is our plan working?”[1] These questions can also apply to our personal plans for spiritual formation.
What’s your plan? Is it working?
JESUS’ MODEL OF SABBATH
Here’s what is awkward about even having this conversation. Jesus didn’t live in a 21st century Western society with a smartphone in his pocket. He wasn’t a stay-at-home dad taking care of three kids. There was no corporate ladder he was trying to climb. So, often when we think about these things we wonder if Jesus could ever even relate.
Obviously, he can’t relate to these specific situations, but he can relate to their underlying problems. No, he didn’t have a smartphone, but he did have constant waves of people wanting physical healing and spiritual nourishment. He was not a stay-at-home dad, but he did feel an intense burden to equip his disciples to start the most significant movement in human history. There was no corporate ladder he was climbing, but there was constant pressure to be a powerful revolutionary to overthrow Rome. On top of this, add the strain of knowing how and when he was going to die. One could argue his life might have been a little stressful.
Even so, Christ's relationship with the Father was of the utmost importance. Luke records that he “often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” (Luke 5:16). This instance was right after several healings which had led to his fame spreading like wildfire across Judea. Being a devout Jew, he practiced Sabbath every week. He knew and loved the Scriptures. He understood what it meant to be in community. He fasted regularly. It seems that when busy seasons arose in the life of Jesus, his spiritual formation became more intentional.
A LIFE-GIVING RULE OF LIFE
So, how can apprentices of Jesus reclaim “the fullness of life” (John 10:10) that Jesus promised while living in a twenty-first century Western society?
I believe a solution could be to craft a “rule of life.” Popularized by St. Benedict almost fifteen hundred years ago, a “rule of life” helped followers of Jesus order their lives around discipleship to Jesus. Now, I understand that even mentioning the word “rule” in a society that seems to have an aversion to rules is risky, but I’m not talking about rules for life.
The word “rule” derives from the Latin word “regula,” which refers to a straight piece of wood. It was also used to describe a trellis, which is a tool that helps every vine to produce good fruit. That fruit, then, is the ability for us to love God with our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
In his book The Common Rule, Justin Whitmel Earley writes, “Despite our understanding of the word ‘rule,’ a ‘rule of life’ is much less about obeying rules than it is about finding communal purpose… The idea is that we (like plants) are always changing and growing. But when there is no order, growth can take something that was supposed to produce fruit and turn it into a twisted vine of decay. The rule of life is intended to pattern communal life in the direction of purpose and love instead of chaos and decay.”[2]
A TOOL FOR DEEP ABIDING
A “rule of life” keeps our hearts focused on the things that allow us to grow in Christlikeness. It is a structured, ordered way of being with Jesus. Like bumpers on a bowling lane or a trellis for a vine, it can gently propel us in the right direction and can keep us moving forward. If we let it, it can examine our motives, goals, and schedules to give us an idea of the distractions we allow to dominate our lives.
A “rule of life,” then, was a way of ordering your life around the lifestyle and “rule” of Jesus. It was a structured way of “abiding in the vine” (John 15), “praying without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17), and “practicing the presence of God,” as Brother Lawrence said.
A personal, written rule of life attempts to answer the question, “if Jesus were me, what would his life and spiritual practices look like?”
CRAFTING A RULE OF LIFE
Even thinking about crafting a personal, written “rule of life” can be daunting, so let me encourage you.
First, start where you are. Look at your current spiritual practices (or lack thereof) and ask, “what is a reasonable first step?” Personally, as I began practicing a “rule of life,” I was overly ambitious in how my spiritual practices were going to change. One cannot merely become Mother Theresa overnight, so trying to adopt all her methods might not be the wisest.
Begin with practices like silence and solitude, scripture meditation, and Sabbath-keeping. These are staples in every good “rule of life.” Look at your daily, weekly, quarterly, and annual rhythms. Pete Scazzero, giving guidance on how to start crafting a “rule of life,” encourages you to answer these questions:
“What do you currently do that nurtures your spirit and fills you with delight?”
“What people, places, and activities do you need to avoid because they deplete you or make it difficult for you to remain anchored in Christ?”
“What ‘have tos’ impact your rhythms in this season of life?”[3]
FREEDOM TO GROW IN CHRISTLIKENESS
Every good “rule of life” is fluid. It shifts and takes different shapes in different seasons of life. What worked for me six months ago is different than what is working now. A good idea would be to pick up your written “rule of life” every three months to examine whether you are sticking to it. The key is not in having the perfect “rule of life” (if that does exist), but in allowing structure and order to free you up to grow in Christlikeness.
Remember, the purpose of having a “rule of life” is not merely to have a “rule of life.” Like every spiritual practice, it is a means to an end. That end is allowing Jesus to transform our hearts and minds for the good of others and the glory of God. Let us humbly, freely, and urgently allow God to examine our lives so that he can do with them what he will.
“Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matt. 11:28–30 NIV).
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY:
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
Workbook for unhurrying and writing your own rule of life by Bridetown Church
The Common Rule by Justin Whitmel Earley
Brock Trexler lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area with his wife, Hannah, and his son, Hudson. He is passionate about pastoring, teaching and serving the next generation to know and follow Jesus. He has the privilege to serve as a student pastor at Compass Christian Church in Colleyville, TX. You can follow him on Twitter (@btrex14).