REFRESH: to give new strength to; to invigorate; to relieve after fatigue; to reanimate after depression; to cheer; to enliven; to revive what is drooping.
1 Kings 13:7 (KJV)
And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh
thyself, and I will give thee a reward.
Believe it or not, personal refreshment can be a temptation. A much-needed boost often comes in the form of stimulating hospitality offered through persons of an impressive nature, as is the case in the chapter this verse belongs. I challenge you to read 1 Kings 13 in its entirety if you have not already. Yes, there are individuals who would cleverly draw God’s servants away from the Word and work of God - for their own selfish purposes and your ruin! There are particular times for particular reasons that God would have us refuse personal refreshment. There are deceptive individuals who display similar callings and use parallel terminology to present themselves as folks with whom you can fellowship and absorb strength. Unfortunately, man is not always able to discern these particular persons or occasions; therefore, obedience is a strong safety factor! Pay close attention to God’s Word, God’s work, and God’s will for your life and you will be protected from appealing, yet unreliable invitations for refreshment.
Acts 27:3 (KJV)
And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated
Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.
On the other hand, there are times when God does permit His servants to receive support from others along the way. It is good that folks desire to make our journeys easier. We must all strive to be thoughtful people who can be relied upon in tough times for refreshment! In the above text, Julius was apparently sensitive to Paul’s need of a good “pick-me-up” after his recent and typical trying experiences. No doubt certain of your friends provide you with the boost you need when you are low. What a blessing it is to receive even small portions of encouragement that help keep us up and running! Imagine, though, Paul seeking out the company of his friends for refreshment only to be greeted with additional stressful issues of their lives as they saw him approaching. It would be tempting to want to tap into the heart and mind of someone like Paul when he was around, amen? Nevertheless, are you capable of putting your problems on hold long enough to refresh someone else? Do you always use your time in the company of your pastor and/or his wife or any other servant of the Lord to seek release and refreshment from your pressures? Do you ever think to employ your time together just to refresh them?? Could they ever count on you for support?
For instance, because I am a pastor’s wife, most social gatherings that I attend develop into a type of counseling session. Don’t get me wrong; I do not resent this in the least! I understand it is my ministry as a pastor’s wife to be sensitive to the needs of people and I love my role and take it very seriously. No matter the occasion or the location, my presence naturally provides an opportunity for another woman to move toward me to discuss matters requiring personal guidance. It is rare that I leave any function without having given away some strength, but even rarer that I leave having been given strength. Now I realize that I am taking a risk in being honest with everyone but I am not being open for my own personal benefit. I am not inviting pity or change. I am simply being truthful so you ladies can increase your sensitivity to your own pastor’s wife or any other woman you rely heavily upon and consider taking the opportunity to strengthen them on occasion! As Julius did for Paul, you should grant God’s busy servants the liberty for personal refreshment. Paul was not the kind of Christian that felt he needed or deserved a two-week vacation on the beaches of sunny Florida every 6 months for all his labor in the Lord, but he did need to be refreshed once in awhile. This is a courtesy seldom awarded those heartily involved in the ministry. Praise the Lord for friends that support one another unselfishly!
Philemon 1:20 (KJV)
Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in
the Lord.
Whether you realize it or not, refreshment comes in other forms besides good fellowship. To those who deal with defiant spirits on a regular basis, an individual’s obedience to God is very refreshing to God’s ministers! Just as a parent is grieved when their children are strong-willed or do not get along with one another, so too, is the shepherd grieved when his sheep behave in similar manner. It is a draining atmosphere in which God’s servant operates on a daily basis as these fleshly challenges are confronted and combated. I wonder, dear lady, is your walk with the Lord a refreshment to your pastor? Is your obedient spirit a tonic to his weary heart? Does he have joy or grief of you? If you really want to refresh your pastor, there is no need to send him on a two-week vacation to an exotic island – you getting right with God is the greatest shot in the arm he could ever receive!! It would revive your pastor’s spirit and put a spring back in his step. His slumped shoulders would rise as his heart was encouraged by your desire to be faithful to God!
Proverbs 25:13 (KJV)
As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger
to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
Within the pages of scripture there are many accounts of God’s ministers who shed tears as they carried out their work for the Lord. How sad to read of those who were responsible for increasing rather than decreasing the load of God’s recruits. Ladies, we all understand that the issues of life can weigh any and all of us down. All things considered, I’d prefer the message of my life be a refreshing one, wouldn’t you? What might you need to do today to make that true?
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2004 Pamela A. Iannello
