Why a Rule of Life is Better than a Resolution

As we come into 2024, I find myself both reflecting on and desperately needing the words of Jesus in John 15:

There is so much in this one verse that we could reflect on this morning. We could reflect on Jesus’s desire to just be with us before we do any work for him. We could think deeply about the key to deep fruitfulness in our lives. Or, we could ask the challenging question of whether any success apart from obedience to Jesus is even success in the first place.

In all of this, I find myself this year hearing Jesus’s fresh invitation to rest, and from this rest to bear much fruit.

Oftentimes in contemporary culture, either rest or work is idolized.

Some idolize work — they refuse to rest, are addicted to accomplishment, and if they do rest, it is seen as a means to an end — a way to accomplish more rather than a good in and of itself. Have you ever viewed work this way?

Others idolize rest. They view the “good life” as living off of passive income, vacationing three months out of the year, working only for retirement, or outsourcing responsibility for the sake of a four-hour week. Have you ever viewed rest this way?

Yet, in Genesis 1, we find God calling both work and rest good. Both matter to God. And, in Genesis 1, God both works and rests, induing both with intrinsic value.

The key, according to Jesus in John 15, is simply to both work and rest with God. To be in sync with him. In his rhythm.

But how do we do that?

Around this time of year, it is common to make New Year’s resolutions.

I am prone to make wildly unrealistic goals for myself and give up long before I ever actually accomplish them. Can anyone relate?

What I’ve found in recent years is that while it may be helpful to have a goal (i.e. run a marathon, write a book, bake a good loaf of sourdough bread), what is perhaps infinitely more important is that I have a way to get there. In other words, what is a sustainable daily or weekly practice that will be required to get me to my goal?

This, to me, is where John 15 and New Year’s resolutions converge — and reflect a deep invitation that I am feeling from the Lord that I want to invite us into today.

Ancient monks have found that the key to living a life with God, a John 15 abiding unto fruitfulness life, is found in something called a “rule of life.”

For those unfamiliar with this term, it is less about a rule to follow and more about a measurement upon which we can base our life. I like how pastor Ken Shigamatsu defines it in his book God in My Everything:

In my own words, I define a rule of life as a set of rhythms that help me enjoy friendship with God — much like a regular date night helps me to enjoy my relationship with my wife.

In other words, what are practices and rhythms in my life that help me to live with Jesus?

Many amazing resources can help you with this concept if you are unfamiliar (email me for suggestions!), but for our devotional today I simply want to ask the question:

Where are you feeling the Spirit’s invitation towards a daily or weekly practice that will help you live life in step with Jesus for this year?

Perhaps it is an invitation to carve out a weekly Sabbath day, a daily prayer practice, a monthly investment in an important relationship, or even a regular time given to reading, writing, or working out.

I don’t want to define it for you, the important thing is that you lean in and listen to the rhythm of God in your life.

So, once again, I want to invite us to breathe in and out, and as we breathe in, pray “Come,” and as we breathe out, pray “Holy Spirit.”

As we breathe in and out, I want to invite us to hear Jesus’s words afresh this morning:

And, as we hold his words close to our hearts, we listen for his invitations to live in step with him afresh this year. Here are some questions if you have time to dig a little deeper:

• Do you find yourself coming into a season of deeper abiding and rest, or deeper fruitfulness and work?

• What spiritual practices have been the most life-giving to you in recent weeks?

• What spiritual practices do you feel drawn to or inspired by?

• Is there any “resolution” you’ve made that needs to be accompanied by a daily or weekly rhythm to see it to completion?

• Is there any daily or weekly practice you feel invited by the Spirit to lean into even this week?

P.S. I can’t thank you enough for subscribing to this weekly devotional. As always, my inbox is open for thoughts, questions, and encouragement. Just want to help you come alive and live in love with Jesus more and more in 2024 😎