“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28
Early wake calls… rushing to work… commuting nightmares… kids to drop off… kids to pick up…
Or
Endless chores to do… shopping and waiting on long lines… no time to sleep, no time to eat, NO TIME FOR ANYTHING!
SOUND FAMILIAR???
A Forbes article last July stated:
“Nearly 190 million people experienced significantly higher stress in 2020 than in years past. In 2020, the world was a sadder, angrier, more worried and more stressed-out place than it has been at any time in the past 15 years.”
The article further stated:
“The resentment, unhappiness and dissatisfaction has been brewing for the last 10 years, the report says. Gallup points to “historically, political and economic turmoil,” which are “often the backdrop of rising negative emotions.” A rising combination of “increasing global hunger, a lack of freedom, rising corruption and income inequality” have made people frustrated and anxious.”
We run TO many things… and run FROM many things… and we are, quite frankly, exhausted… wearied and heavy-laden… grinding away what good health we have left…
There is, however, a solution: JESUS
In Matthew Jesus was saying, literally:
“Come hither!… don’t delay! Everyone of you who feel fatigued and work hard… who are loaded up and overburden with religious customs and traditions (creating spiritual anxiety) … and I will repose and repose you thereby refreshing you…”
Large reason why we are tired and stressed is because we don’t know how to STOP… which is further acerbated by the fact that we don’t know how to prioritize. We put things first that should be last and last things first!
And to make matters worse, church is no haven for us either. Were asked/coerced to show up (gotta be here every Sunday!), shut up (we’re not interested in your opinion or thoughts), and give up (your time and your money). It’s no wonder that a recent statement from the Institute for Family Studies said that in the past two years of the COVID pandemic one-in-three practicing Christians dropped out of church completely…
People are tired and church should be a place of refreshment and rest not another thing that demands so much from us.
Jesus said: “Come to me…” that wasn’t to find something else for you to do or put another brick in your wagon… YOU ARE NOT A MULE!!!! And you are most certainly NOT a slave:
“Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.” – Galatians 4:7 NLT
That’s what Jesus died to make you: A SON
“3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
You see, you ARE NOT ADOPTED!!! You were BORN into God’s Family. Hence, the term: “BORN AGAIN.”
One of the most poorly translated verses in the bible, in my opinion, that has caused so much trouble is this:
“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” – Romans 8:15 KJV
Now, this is why I love my Strong’s Concordance (but it has its flaws):
The word adoption in the Greek is huiothesia (pronounced hwee-oth-es-ee’-ah) which means “the placing as a son, i.e. adoption (figuratively, Christian sonship in respect to God)”
That’s where all these problems stem from. When Strong’s was compiled and written, the understanding of placement as sons was understood to be adoption. However, if that were true then NONE of us would EVER see heaven:
“…Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. “
So, if you are not born of water and spirit, you cannot enter the kingdom and thereby NOT be a child of God.
Whoa… see how serious that is? Now, follow me on this:
If you’re adopted, you have the same genetic make-up as your birth parents, right? So, if we are adopted into God’s family, who’s “genetic make-up” do you think we would have?
Aaaa… yeah:
“You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” – John 8:44 NKJV
So, let’s settle this once and for all”. YOU ARE NOT ADOPTED!!!
Why am I making such a big deal about this? Because “even the smallest bit of doubt or feelings of “being dirty” will paralyze your faith and stunt you spiritual growth.
“A little leaven corrupteth the whole lump.” – Galatians 5:9 Douay-Rheims Bible
Just a little of doubt… a little bit of mistrust of Him… just a little of justification by works rather than faith… is all takes to spin us out of control….
Look, life is difficult enough without us tripping ourselves up.
Jesus said we would have tribulations and trials but victory only comes in knowing, believing, and embracing our sonship.
There is a plethora of verses speaking on rest and I won’t go into them now. Suffice it so say that YOU were created to… R E S T
Rest first begins in the heart: S A L V A T I O N
“For with your heart you believe and are justified,…” – Romans 10:10a Berean Study Bible
Then, you soul (your mind, your conscious, the seat of your emotions) is engaged:
“…and with your mouth you confess and are saved.” Romans 10:10b Berean Study Bible
Then your mouth declares what you believe (or don’t believe).
You want to know what you REALLY believe? Listen to what comes out of YOUR MOUTH!
Beloved, be secure in the knowledge that you are His child… not by adoption but by BIRTH. He loves you and He’s IN you…. So, you are NEVER alone… Revell in that… rejoice in that…. Then, face your day with the knowledge that whatever comes your way… You are most definitely NOT facing it Alone…
He’s WITH you and IN you…. So…. Believe differently and you will speak differently… Trust Him… It WILL change how your day goes…. AND IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE….