“Love in the Dining Room” Part 6 - “The Unforced Rhythms of Grace”

Published by Angela | Filed under Personalities, Speaking Notes

Matthew 11:28-30

“Are you tired?  Worn out?   Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. ·        Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it.·        Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. ·        I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. ·        Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

No matter what personality we are or how much we have it all together, we get tired, weary or just plain worn out.  It’s January 22 and I’m ready for a vacation already. 

 If you read the first five posts about “Love in the Dining Room”, which began in September, you will see that we looked at Christ’s call for intimacy and the way each personality responds.  Our standard is usually the Perfect, Proper Melancholy’s style which is deep, disciplined Bible Study.  The rest of the personalities have a difficulty measuring up to this standard and, consequently, become tired, weary or very worn out in the process. 

 But here in Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus calls the tired, weary and worn out to come to him.  To escape the expectations of others and get away with Christ where we can recover our life – bring it back into perspective. 

 We tend to withdraw from Christ when we’re feeling like we’re a failure, especially when it comes to our devotions.  He’s knocked and knocked, called our name, waited and waited; but we ignore him out of embarrassment or fear of what he may think or say.  It’s easier to live in denial than face the fact that we’ve let him down in the intimacy category. 

 But The Message expresses Matthew 11:29 so well for the different personalities:    Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.

 Grace does not force us into a mold or pattern in which we do not fit.  Grace is an enabling power that sets us free to respond to Christ and life within the framework of who we are – not someone else’s expectations.  Grace is like a dance. We place our hand in his and because he is leading and knows our level of proficiency, he makes up for any lack of skill or confidence. 

 We can be assured that he won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on us.  He knows us better than we know ourselves.  With one he may dance the slow dance and with someone else the waltz but what is that to us? 

It’s in keeping company with Christ that we learn the unforced rhythms of grace and intimacy; not in withdrawing and hiding.

Every personality blend has her particular strengths and challenges for which she must learn the unforced rhythm of grace.

Each personality must be set free from “should have”, “could have” and “ought to” so they can enjoy communion as simply developing a grace filled relationship with God.  

Intimacy awaits us all no matter what our personality.Come…learn the unforced rhythms of grace.