GALATIANS 6:9 – “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

THEME OF THE DAY: WEARINESS – THE PRICE TO PAY.  It is going to happen. It must happen. It is the reality in Christians throughout church history who left a mark and are leaving a mark in their generations for Christ.

It was so in the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Himself – “Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour” (John 4:6). It is the application of today’s scripture – not growing weary in doing good, not growing weary of living for Jesus, and not growing weary of influencing others for Him.

Oswald Sanders wrote, “If a Christian is not willing to rise early and work late, to expend greater effort in diligent study and faithful work, that person will not change a generation. Mediocrity is the result of never getting tired.” He is reminding us of the non-negotiable nature of the Christian life and its needed toil.

Now please, after what I am about to write and you read, don’t dig your heels in in disagreement and unsubscribe from our daily devotion.  The price of making a difference for Jesus demands we burn the midnight oil; labor while others rest, and sacrifice comfort and ease for spiritual priorities, pursuits, and impact.   I know a lot has been said and written about spiritual burnout and I do understand the concept. Rest we must, but sleep and rest are not hobbies. They are necessities to recharge our mental, emotional, and spiritual batteries for greater service and impact for the Lord.

When it comes to the concept of spiritual burnout, it is not something easily supported from scripture.  We simply are called to exhausting labor in following Jesus and that for all of life.  Why?  The Christian life is an intense war, a grueling fight, and hard race.  It places extreme demands upon us physically, spiritually, and emotionally.  Frankly, it is not for the faint of heart. As I mentioned, rest we must but only for a season.

So, what may we do when weariness comes upon us in our walks with and service for the Lord?  Consider these two applications.  First, get it settled in our minds the price to pay in walking with the Lord and serving Him is high. The price? Fatigue, exhaustion, weariness.  Words like “easy, convenience, comfortable” will never make it into the vocabulary of living the Christian life.   If we are convinced the nature of the Christian life and service for the Lord is one of toil and labor needing resources outside of ourselves, we are on our way to embracing the demands of the Christian life and service in the strength of the Lord.

The second thing we must do is learn to appropriate God’s resources for walking with Him and serving Him.  And the chief resource is the power of God’s joy to be our strength – “Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength”” (Nehemiah 8:10).  The joy of the Lord isn’t just some nice feeling.  It is power. It is strength.  It is what allows us to not grow weary in well doing.  And the joy of the Lord comes when we realize our labor for Him is not in vain.

Weariness is the price to pay as a Christian.  But oh, it is worth it when we see the Master and hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

PRAYER:  Father, may I learn to experience the joy of Your Son as my strength for doing Your will.

REFLECTION: Weariness is the cost that must be paid to live a life pleasing to and influential for the Lord.