Book review: Sit, Walk, Stand by Watchman Nee

Click to buy at Amazon.co.uk

I once chuckled at a T-shirt which said “Jesus Is Coming... Look Busy”.  If, like me, you sometimes fret about whether you are doing enough for the Lord, try this book which changed my life last week. Nee's memorable 3-word title sums up Ephesians in terms of three pillars of Christian life.  What really hit me was the very first idea – that before we start to do anything for Him we must sit and rest in God. Consider this: on the sixth day God made people so the very first, blissful day that humankind spent with their Creator was His day of rest.  There's more: not only did God present the world to us as a free gift – He did the same with our redemption.  It is already finished.  Relax!  Ephesians 1:20 says God raised Jesus from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realm ... and in Ephesians 2:6 God raises us and seats us right there with Jesus! 

Of course it doesn't end there: Nee shows us how to walk out our Christian life, with rich illustrations and encouragement from Scripture.  Finally he addresses the inevitable spiritual battles.  We are not asked to invade the enemy's territory, Nee points out – only to “Stand”: hold the ground that Jesus already won for us.  If we are securely seated with Christ in the heavens and walking in the power of His Spirit, we can be sure that at the end of the battle we will still be standing.  This book is not a quick easy read – each paragraph is packed with wisdom – but it's well worth it.


Janet Noakes