It’s A Good Tired

“And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.” - Luke 24:50-¬53

Obviously I can’t know how Jesus felt that day, but I can imagine. And I imagine that what I have felt many times is just a dim reflection of what Jesus felt. I can imagine that feeling we’ve all had at one time or another is the same type of feeling Christ had as He ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of God, to receive His rest. It is a great magnification of that feeling when we have said at the end of the day, “I’m tired, but it’s a good tired!”

I’ve had this feeling after spending a day working on a Habitat House or leading a full- day of activities as the director of Senior High Camp. I’ve had this feeling after spending the day hiking with my family and playing with the little ones. I’ve had it on days full of meetings and seeing great progress being made in areas of concern. I’ve always felt it on the Sunday afternoon of Easter after a week full of special services, plans for the great celebration and the regular busyness of pastoral ministry.

In all of these, I was tired, but it was a good tired. I knew the physical weariness I felt had resulted in something that was, well, maybe not eternal. But it was at least going to bear fruit far longer than it the effort I put into it. My expenditure of time, energy and self was an investment in the lives of others.
For Jesus, after having come and dwelt among us here on earth; after having taught; after having healed the sick, the lame, the blind and even raising the dead; after having founded the church; after having died for the sins of all humanity and conquering the gates of Hell; after having conquering the grave and reassuring the doubters; Christ gave us a charge to carry on and “was received into heaven.” I can imagine the human part of Him said, “I am tired, but it’s a good tired.”

And for we who have been called to follow Him, for those of us who have been called to be His Body, we who have been charged to continue the work that He began, He promises strength and guidance to continue the journey. We have been called to continue His work of loving the world as He loved it, of reconciling the lost part of creation to the creator, of healing the sick, loving the unlovely and passing on to others a bit of the Grace shown to us. And at the end of the day, when we stand before the throne, I hope we can feel that feeling again, “I’m tired, but it is a good tired” and that it will be confirmed by our Master saying “Well done thou good and faithful servant!”

Prayer: Lord, help me to work and grow tired in your service and to know that in the end, it is a good tired. Let me glorify you in all that I say and do today and all days. Amen.

 

 

 

 

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