July 17, 2011
Sabbath: The Rest of God Wk 3: Solitude
Posted by Michael
Learn:
Luke 5:15-16
15 But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. 16 But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.
Mark 6:30-31
30 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.
Psalm 46:10a
“Be still, and know that I am God.”
John 19:28-30
28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Main Idea:
We live in a world that makes it hard to unplug. We are connected 24/7, we bring our work home, and we are constantly bombarded by the demands of life. But Jesus, who had more demands placed on Him than any of us, intentionally carved out time to be alone with the Father. The idea of solitude can seem uncomfortable at first. When we are alone, we cannot get away from our thoughts. We get a clear picture of what we think about the most. We uncover the things that distract us from God. But in solitude with God, we can confront those things. Often times we worry that if we are not running around doing things, it means we are unproductive. But we do not have to (nor can we) earn love from God. He offers it freely, through grace, and we are able to find rest in that.
Know What: Solitude offers us the opportunity to confront the things that occupy our thoughts the most and give them to Jesus.
So What: Our worth is not found in what we do, but rather in Whose we are.
Now What: Carve out time to be alone with Jesus, and allow Him to carry your burdens and give you rest.
Discuss…
1. When you hear the word “solitude”, what do you think of? How is the idea of solitude, from a biblical context, different from simply being alone?
2. In Mark 6, the disciples had gotten so busy that they neglected to take care of basic needs such as eating. Are there times during your week where you go so fast that taking even one moment to rest seems impossible? What are the dangers of living life at this pace?
3. How do you feel about the idea of solitude? What are some things about it that make you hesitant to try it? What are some things about it that make you want to engage in it?
4. When you are alone with God, do you find it hard to keep focused on Him? Where do your thoughts naturally drift to? How can you give your thoughts/concerns/worries to Jesus rather than dwell on them during your times of solitude?
5. When was the last time you sat still before God? What was that experience like? What did He tell you?
6. When Jesus said, “It is finished” while on the cross, what did He mean? Have you ever tried to earn God’s love by doing things for Him? What is the difference between trying to earn God’s love and simply accepting it through His grace? What is the natural response to the latter?
Next Steps…
Alastair said that when he first started practicing solitude, he kept hearing God say “I love you.” Sometimes in solitude God simply seeks to remind us of this basic but powerful truth. This week, find some time (even if it’s only 30 minutes) to be alone with God. Allow Him to remind you of His love for you, and listen for anything else He wants to say.
