Resting. Active or passive?
After doing homework tonight, the thought of “resting in faith” came to mind.
I’m reminded when I was in school at Domata Advanced School of Ministry, a Minister called me out of the audience and said:
“Stop striving… stop striving. Be aggressive in your faith but rest.”
Initially, that didn’t make sense to me. How can I be aggressive in my faith and rest at the same time?
The reason I was striving (putting forth a lot of effort towards an end I felt had to happen) is because of the intense stress I was experiencing.
This leads me back to the post title “active rest”. I heard that phrase after thinking on “resting in faith”. When I heard the phrase tonight, I asked: “What does active rest look like?”
It dawned on me… “Receptivity”.
When we exhibit receptive qualities, we are engaging an active process. Receptivity is something that is expressed. It is active. Yet it is more of a drawing force than a doing force. There is a time to give external offerings and a time to exhibit internal drawing… we need both.
To illustrate it another way, think of masculine and feminine. One knocks another opens. One gives, one receives. One is offering, one is accepting.
Even in typical courtship, typically the female shows receptivity and the male shows his active interest in a variety of ways. If either party doesn’t participate then there is no connection or active fellowship. In order for there to be union both sides have to participate.
In the Parable of the sower, the Word of God is active and giving. (seed) Our heart (ground)(by condition and/or choice) is receptive to or not receptive to the Word. The result is a byproduct of the exchange of both.
In active rest, I’m open to God and what He is giving. I’m receptive to what He gives and how He leads.
I’m not passively oblivious. I’m not distracted or non-involved. Nor am I running after everything that comes my way to force an outcome.
Our role of receptivity is powerful. As we receive direction from the stance of active receptivity, we then follow by
The fruit would be the end of our faith. Faith receives, Grace gives. Grace defined by Strong’s Concordance as God’s influence upon the heart.
Faith is an active process of receptivity (active rest) and corresponding action aligned with the Grace given by God thru His Word (His message we perceive in our heart) to us.
I hope this article inspires some further thoughts and even some questions. Contact me with any questions or clarification you desire.
Jon Schauer