YOU DESERVE A BREAK TODAY
Matt. 11:28
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Somebody said: “The harder I work the behinder I get.” And I have to admit that it feels that way sometimes. That’s what makes Jesus’ promise so encouraging. After all, that is what we need isn’t it? . . . rest I mean. We just need to be “at ease.” We just need to “lighten up.”
Did you ever wonder how Jesus does it? Notice that He doesn’t say: “Come to me and I’ll take your burden away.” No, Christ’s way is to give us more strength, or to teach us a better way, or to take away our anxiety about our work and replace it with faith. Check out Matt. 6:25-33 and you’ll see what I mean.
The fact is that most of our “burdens” are self-imposed. We work harder and harder and put more and more pressure on ourselves because there are goals that we feel the need to reach and things we feel the need to possess. Sure, some of those goals and needs are real and justified; but, if we look at it honestly, some are just the world pushing us into its mold. Jesus said: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Here are some passages for those of us who are “weary and burdened” to think about:
Heb. 13:5-6 – “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’”
Php. 4:12-13 – “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
1 Tim. 6:6-12 – “Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith.”
So, how about letting Jesus (rather than McDonalds) give you a break today?
Pastor Keith Andrews