Walk Without Strain
To accomplish God's work, we must learn to rest in Him and let Him work through us, rather than straining and overworking.
Charles E. Cowman preaches on the importance of trusting God to accomplish His work through us without straining or overworking. By fully partaking of Christ through faith, we can experience a life of overflow and ceaseless accomplishment. Resting in God's faithfulness allows us to reflect His glory and serve Him best, as service is living the life of Jesus through us as vessels of His love and sacrifice.
Text
"And he saw them toiling in rowing" (Mark 6:48).
Straining, driving effort does not accomplish the work God gives man to do. Only God Himself, who always works without strain, and who never overworks, can do the work that He assigns to His children. When they restfully trust Him to do it, it will be well done and completely done. The way to let Him do His work through us is to partake of Christ so fully, by faith, that He more than fills our life.
A man who had learned this secret once said: "I came to Jesus and I drank, and I do not think that I shall ever be thirsty again. I have taken for my motto, 'Not overwork, but overflow'; and already it has made all the difference in my life."
There is no effort in overflow. It is quietly irresistible. It is the normal life of omnipotent and ceaseless accomplishment into which Christ invites us today and always.--Sunday School Times
Be all at rest, my soul, O blessed secret,
Of the true life that glorifies thy Lord:
Not always doth the busiest soul best serve Him,
But he that resteth on His faithful Word.
Be all at rest, let not your heart be rippled,
For tiny wavelets mar the image fair,
Which the still pool reflects of heaven's glory--
And thus the image He would have thee bear.
Be all at rest, my soul, for rest is service,
To the still heart God doth His secrets tell;
Thus shalt thou learn to wait, and watch, and labor,
Strengthened to bear, since Christ in thee doth dwell.
For what is service but the life of Jesus,
Lived through a vessel of earth's fragile clay,
Loving and giving and poured forth for others,
A living sacrifice from day to day.
Be all at rest, so shalt thou be an answer
To those who question, "Who is God and where?"
For God is rest, and where He dwells is stillness,
And they who dwell in Him, His rest shalt share.
And what shall meet the deep unrest around thee,
But the calm peace of God that filled His breast?
For still a living Voice calls to the weary,
From Him who said, "Come unto Me and rest."
--Freda Hanbury Allen
"In resurrection stillness there is resurrection power."
Sermon Outline
- The Problem of Strain
- The Secret of Overflow
- The Normal Life of Omnipotent Accomplishment
- Rest as Service
- God reveals His secrets to the still heart
- Strengthened to wait, watch, and labor
Key Quotes
“Not overwork, but overflow; and already it has made all the difference in my life.” — Charles E. Cowman
“Be all at rest, my soul, O blessed secret, Of the true life that glorifies thy Lord:” — Charles E. Cowman
“In resurrection stillness there is resurrection power.” — Charles E. Cowman
Application Points
- To avoid straining in your work for God, trust Him to do His work through you and partake of Christ by faith.
- Resting in God and letting Him work through you is the key to living a life of service to Him.
- Entering into the resurrection stillness and trusting in God's power can bring you the power you need to serve Him.