A Rule For Rest
Jesus on Abiding
We’ve all been there. Let’s not pretend like we haven’t. It is 2021 after all.
You know, the point where utter exhaustion has overtaken you? The moment where you begin to question everything. The instant that dreaded question arises, “what on earth am I doing here?”
In no way is this an attempt to hyperbolize life’s hardships or evoke feelings of self-pity. Such instances are simply a reality in our over-worked, hyper-busy, outrageously-efficient, manic-paced lives.
Because if you didn’t know, we are overworked. We are hyper busy, outrageously efficient and we do live at a manic pace.
Perhaps if we slowed down enough to think about it, that fact would become clear.
Consider this: 100 years ago, the top-selling vehicle was Henry Ford’s Model T car that had a top speed of 45 mph.[1] In 1921, cell phones did not exist, neither did in-home televisions. Obviously social media wasn’t in the picture nor were smartphones, apps or the internet. Simply put, the world lived at a much slower pace.
There was no other option.
Why does that matter? Studies show that Americans were actually the happiest they had ever been in the early 1920’s.[2] It seems a balance of technological efficiency and personal awareness had reached its peak.
So, what does that mean for our society today? Consider the facts that suicide rates, depression and anxiety are higher than they were 10 years ago and climbing (and were even pre-COVID-19 pandemic)[3] and you start to wonder if perhaps the pace of life is pushing us beyond our limits.
I’m sure a lot of this you’ve already heard. Every time a public figure takes their life or attempts to, it’s brought up. Any instance of extreme cyber-bullying or mass shootings bring these conversations to the forefront. We’re aware of the dangers our pace of life presents and yet, so few of us are willing to do anything about it.
It’s here that I found myself in July of 2020. Aware of my unsustainable pace and yet, resigned to change.
That is until I read John 15.
Clinging to Jesus
John 15 recounts a fascinating teaching of Jesus where He describes Himself as The Vine. To most individuals in 2021, the imagery in this story seems severely outdated. Yet, in context, to a 1st century Jew, the picture Jesus is painting is absolutely riveting.
Let’s begin in verse 5 where Jesus says,
“I am the vine; you are the branches.”
The vine represents the foundation, the structure or the centerpiece.
Everything stems from and flows from the vine. It is the life source, the base, the epicenter.
We’re aware of the dangers our pace of life presents and yet, so few of us are willing to do anything about it.
Jesus says as much when he declares,
“If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5b).
Jesus is pretty explicit. If you become like Him, your life will produce an abundance of positive outcomes.
Notice He doesn’t say that our lives will be easy, self-serving or self-glorifying. He simply states that by becoming like Him, by remaining constantly in His presence, His character and His personhood, we will yield fruit (or in Ancient Greek, karpos which means, “to yield what is eternal” a.k.a. “eternal blessings”).
When we engage in consistent relational intimacy with Jesus, our lives produce eternal results. In other words, a harvest will occur.
This is both a virtue and command of every believer, is it not? 1 John 2:17 states that,
“The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”
By abiding in Jesus—the Vine—we are participating in God’s will, brining heaven (eternity) to earth.
How?
The logical question then, is, “how?”
How does one—practically speaking—abide in the Vine? How does one slow down enough to take inventory of their heart and soul and dissuade themselves from the copious glorification of hurry?
As the wonderful Ruth Haley-Barton laments, “We think that somehow we will fall into [spiritual] transformation by accident.”[4]
I think if we’re being honest, most of us would begrudgingly admit that our spiritual transformation and growth happens more haphazardly and at random than we’d care to admit. For many of us, our apprenticeship to Jesus lacks structure, intentionality and discipline.
When we engage in consistent relational intimacy with Jesus, our lives produce eternal results.
The pace of life, the constant noise, demands, technology and speed of our modern-day society have all taken higher precedent and priority than our devotion to Jesus.
In 2021, hurry is almost a prerequisite of living in our Western society. If you’re not hustling, if you’re not grinding, if you’re not busy, then are you really doing anything?
But could it be that there is an intentional practice that will aid us in remaining or abiding in the Vine? A practice that will, as one of my heroes John Mark Comer (who stole this from his hero’s hero—Dallas Willard)[5] puts it, help us, “ruthlessly eliminate hurry?”[6] A practice that will invoke a spirt of life-giving rest and renewal?
As a matter of fact, there is!
Believe it or not, there’s a practice that was created from Jesus’ teaching in John 15 that early followers (circa 3rd century A.D.) of Jesus adopted with great success. It’s a practice that has revolutionized my spiritual apprenticeship to Jesus and one that I think will change your life too if you take it seriously.
A Practice That Will Change Your Life
St. Benedict was the first individual to develop a Rule of Life.[7] His inspiration was birthed out of a desire to help his monastic community center their days around three key elements: prayer, study and work.
What is this Rule of Life, you ask?
And why do I have the sudden urge to slam my keyboard into a million pieces as I realize my relationship to Jesus has been reduced to a set of rules? Isn’t that the opposite of what Jesus taught?
It is.
The key is in the language. Notice this practice is called a Rule of Life not Rule(s) for Life. The nuance is subtle, but the contrast is stark.
For many of us, our apprenticeship to Jesus lacks structure, intentionality and discipline.
Our English word rule is derived from the Latin regula. Regula can be translated as, “a straight piece of wood” or, “a ruler.” It’s where the metric tool’s name comes from. A rule is a fixed entity. It’s steady, sturdy and straight. In a world where our aspirations are centered on achieving (i.e. through goals, benchmarks, analytics and resolutions) a Rule of Life focuses on becoming or being. It is the base from which we are centered because in it, we find Jesus.
The origin of regula’s meaning is debated even to this day but most scholars believe that another meaning translates to the English word, “trellis.”
A trellis, in case you’re unaware, is a tool used to uphold a plant or a vine to aid in the growth process. Without a trellis, the vine either lacks depth and height (two key visual factors of health), withers under the poor, ground-level environment or is subject to destruction by natural predators.
In the same way, without a rule, a regula, a trellis to uphold our spiritual growth, we are susceptible to many of the same dangers.
So, while the word “rule” may scare you off, I invite you to give this a chance. The reality is, you’re already practicing this—you just may not be aware that you are. We all live our lives either with or without intention.
Should you choose to bypass this exercise, you will still participate. A Rule of Life, in essence, is a conglomerate of the practices, rhythms and habits that we participate in on a daily basis.
Which brings me back to Jesus’ teaching in John 15. Jesus says, “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.”[8]
A Rule of Life takes Jesus’ teaching here quite literally. Essentially, this practice ushers in practical usage of Jesus’ spiritual challenge. A Rule of Life seeks to develop and stake a trellis for the Vine to dwell on, so that we may spring up life-giving fruit in abundance.
With our remaining time, I want to share how this practice can and should be implemented both in the physical and digital realm of our lives. This will be a basic synonpsis. If you’d like to go deeper into it, I’d encourage you to subscribe and to begin following The Monthly Teach.
I believe—if practiced intentionally—a Rule of Life will revolutionize the way you follow Jesus as purposeful, concrete rhythms are set in motion of your daily life.
True, genuine rest can be found for the weary and heavy-laden through a Rule of Life.
How to Practice
It’s important to note that no two “rules” are alike. The rhythms, pace and general flow of my day-to-day life will differ from a middle-aged mom whose Rule will differ from an empty nester whose Rule will differ from a single father of three children.
The point here is not to copy and paste someone’s rhythms and apply them as your own. The goal, however, remains the same for all of us.
I love how Teacher and Author, John Mark Comer, frames it. He describes the pinnacle of a rule of life as a formation for, “being with Jesus, becoming like Jesus and doing what Jesus did.”[9]
If you’d like this exercise to take deep root in your soul, then I suggest the following:
First, begin by simply sitting in Jesus’ presence.
If practices and rhythms are immediately developed and implemented, then you’ve just created a to-do list. This isn’t meant to become an obligatory, rigid, legalistic agenda. The idea is that rhythms and practices develop out of a deep well of conviction for the type of apprentice and disciple of Jesus you believe God is calling you to be.
Once you feel you’ve gained clarity on what these desires are, run them through the filter of spiritual rhythms.
These rhythms were practiced by Jesus and are deemed necessary to living a life of abiding.
They include:
· Solitude and Silence
· Scripture Reading
· Prayer
· Fasting
· Sabbath
· Community
· Confession
· Simplicity
· Honoring the Body
· Hospitality
· Forgiveness
Among many others.
The point is not to incorporate each and every rhythm to the greatest degree but to lean into the practices you feel God is calling you to during this present season.
A Rule of Life—while fixed in nature—is fluid in motion. In fact, many experts recommend reviewing your Rule every 6 months if not more, to ensure that the rhythms and practices you’re practicing fit best who God is calling you to become.
A Rule of Life seeks to develop and stake a trellis for the Vine to dwell on, so that we may spring up life-giving fruit in abundance.
What a pleasure it is to follow a Savior who doesn’t generate slaves of repetition but joyful agents of abiding.
Once you feel you’ve sorted out the necessary rhythms and practices for your life, it now comes time to sort out at what pace you will practice these rhythms.
Most Rules (but not all) categorize their practices into daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual practices. See these time categories not as barriers but as edges to your trellis. They help make up—from bottom to top—the structure needed to ensure a strong foundation is secured.
Daily rhythms like fixed-time prayer, silence and solitude, scripture reading or taking a walk could be great disciplines to start to introduce into your routine. Weekly practices could include Sabbath, corporate worship, community or extended periods of silence and solitude. Monthly practices could be fasting, retreating to a quiet place for a day or meeting with a spiritual director or counselor. Quarterly rhythms could be an extended getaway with a spouse or friend, technology-free weekends and the like. And finally, annual rhythms could be a well planned, extended vacation, an annual wellness checkup or a detailed financial review.
Again, this isn’t mean to be an exhaustive list (see The Monthly Teach for that) but more of a generator to get you started in developing patterns and practices of Jesus that ensure you remain or abide in Him.
Going Digital
I’m sure I will write about this more extensively at some point. But in 2021, many followers of Jesus have deemed it necessary to generate what’s been termed, “A Digital Rule of Life.” It is what it implies.
Essentially, you’re taking the practices and rhythms listed above and applying them to the digital devices that so often are treated as unspoken idols.
This practice in particular has been revolutionary for me since discovering it. To address briefly, the ability to sit with God and spend time developing a Rule or a trellis with which to place the idol of technology on has been one of the most intimate experiences I’ve had with Jesus in quite some time.
Out of this time, I was able to develop my own Digital Rule of Life.
The first practice really sets the tone for the rest of my rule. It is to, “remind myself daily that the iPhone (and other technological devices) is a tool to enhance my life, not ever to be the primary source of gratification or entertainment.”
This practice serves as a reminder of priorities for me in my life. I am a follower of Jesus first and foremost and belong to Him and Him alone.
My phone has no place in ruling or regulating my life in any way.
Again, I hope to write more extensively on this at some point. But for now, my encouragement is that once you’ve felt you’ve developed an authentic rule of life, to apply those same principles to the digital realm of your existence as well.
I think you’ll be amazed at what Jesus inspires you to do in relation to your technology.
My Hope
Above all, I truly hope you do not read this and believe that following Jesus can or should be reduced to a list of rhythms and practices.
It can’t.
As apprentices or students of Jesus, we are to ever-increase in our awareness and imitation of the Master Teacher.
At the end of the day, a healthy relationship incorporates aspects that are fluid, organic and spontaneous. However, the most intimate relationships reserve a level of intentionality that is unmatched. I show up—day in and day out—for my wife regardless of how I feel. I’m available week after week, month after month and year after year for her because that is the commitment and covenant I made to her.
It is the same with Jesus—only our devotion should be ten-, if not one-hundred-fold. Our commitment to intentionally pursue Him should be unmatched in our lives.
Unfortunately, so often the enemies of hurry, busyness, productivity, laziness, passivity, accomplishment and achievement wrench their way into our lives until, before we know it, we find ourselves distant and unsure of where we stand with our Savior.
Understand that a Rule of Life is not a rigid list of regulations, but a grace given to us by a loving Father who understands that as creatures of habit, we do best in regular, routine communion and conversation.
Know that these words are not coming from an understood, well-versed, practicing expert but from a fellow friend in Christ who is attempting—with all that I have—to live an authentic expression of what I believe it means to be an apprentice of Jesus.
To my core, I believe this practice of a Rule of Life is central to the devoted follower as we seek to routinely, “[have the Word of God kept] in [our] heart and ready on [our] lips” (see Proverbs 22:18).
In fact, in its most basic essence, a Rule of Life is simply practicing the rhythms and habits that Jesus himself practiced. And that’s really my goal in every post I share with you: to teach you about and instruct you how to follow the lifestyle of Jesus.
As apprentices or students of Jesus, we are to ever-increase in our awareness and imitation of the Master Teacher.
My prayer for you is the same that it is for me: That we may live a life enflamed in the passion of intimate love for Jesus Christ.
That our days are full of minute details that have been discovered and dwelled upon routinely.
That the knowledge of the Lover of our souls does not grow nearly as wide as it does deep.
That our commitment and devotion to Jesus is rooted in an unwavering commitment to studying, practicing and implementing His ways.
That as we abide in the Vine, our branches may spring abundantly in raging, wild ways of commitments to justice, mercy and humility.
And that our branches grow in number, that the garden or community of believers is multiplied tenfold as a result of our obedience.
This and more I believe can and will take place when a commitment to living a life in the Vine is established. A Rule of Life may just be the practice that changes not only you—but humanity—forever. Where true rest for your soul can be found.
Be encouraged.
P.S. Have questions? Comments? Concerns? Something on your heart that you want to share? Please know that I’m ALWAYS available to come alongside of you and help walk through life with you. Life is best lived in the context of community. Let’s start today.
Email me at micah@micahedavis.com
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[1] http://www.mtfca.com/coils/Coils.htm
[2] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-019-0750-z
[3] https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/mental-health-and-mental-disorders/national-snapshot
[4] Haley Barton, Ruth, Sacred Rhythms, pg. 147
[5] Comer stole this from John Ortberg who stole it from Dallas Willard. Aren’t you thankful all the credit goes to God anyways? I’ve probably never had an original thought in my life, HA!
[6] Comer, John Mark, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
[7] Haley Barton, Ruth, Sacred Rhythms, pg. 147
[8] John 15:5-6 (NIV)
[9] https://practicingtheway.org/teaching/developing-a-rule-of-life
