duty and delight

The greatest “yes”

To live in delight and not only out of duty is our desire. But the path to our greatest delight is not in the absence of a mission to accomplish. The path to our greatest delight is being swept up into a mission that is greater than ourselves, that requires all of us.

Maybe you’re afraid to let your heart grow cold. So when you find yourself doing things just because you know you’re supposed to, you’re tempted to stop. And maybe you do need a reset or a break from certain things. But I’m afraid our bent on our own (apart from the Lord) is to take the path of least resistance and to not be resilient when things get hard.

If you’re afraid your heart is growing cold, the answer is not to just do whatever you want. Think about it, if you feel your heart growing cold then it’s definitely not a good time to follow it’s promptings.

Because lawlessness increases, most people’s love will grow cold. (Matthew 24:12)

For most people, your heart will grow cold in the absence of boundaries, in the absence of a higher law that guides in the ways of life.

When your heart is growing cold is exactly when you need to return to the things that you did before…when your love was alive. Even if you don’t feel like it yet. To do the deeds you did before is the way to return to your first love (Revelation 2:4-5).

And know this, the Lord disciplines those He loves. He disciplines us for our good to that we may share in His holiness. And His holiness is where we fully come alive! He is not looking to take from us, but to give to us! (Hebrews 12:4-13)

One part of the fruit of the Spirit is self-control (Galatians 5:23). Self-control from the Holy Spirit is not a driven, perfectionistic, performance-oriented, hypocritical hustle. It’s congruent with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness. But we wouldn’t be told the Spirit gives us self-control unless He knew we would need it.

Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction. (Proverbs 29:18)

When you listen to the voice of wisdom and keep the law, you are blessed (and more happy!). Vision and revelation will lead to being restrained…in the best way possible! Being restrained to what is life-giving and full of love, true love.

The restraint of the Holy Spirit in keeping with the law ultimately fulfilled in love does not confine in a claustrophobic sense, it is the greatest “yes” to which all other lesser demands on you can be freely told “no”.