"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2Corinthians 4:16-18
Matthew 11:25-30 (NIV)
At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Why does Jesus praise the Father for revealing these things to “little children?” Why does it please the Father to hide these things from the “wise and learned?” What are “these things” that are revealed only through the Son? Scriptures tell us and every theologian agrees that Jesus Christ is the perfect revelation of God the Father. So when Jesus uses terms like: “I will give you rest,” “you will find rest for your souls,” or “my yoke is easy and my burden is light” He is saying it is easy to know the Father through me. Christian religion as an institution bases knowledge of God on performing various tasks; one must be baptized; the believer must believe this school of doctrine; certain behavior will eliminate you from the privilege of knowing God; confirmation or confessions are necessary to salvation; correct political views are essential to believing; the list goes on according to your Christian institution of choice. Jesus Christ is teaching something completely different. Jesus teaches something radically counter to culture; one could even say it is counter Christian religion culture. When Jesus invites a person to experience rest He is calling that person to put their confidence in nothing and no one but Him. The only righteousness any of us has is the righteousness of Jesus Christ. There are certainly behaviors to be avoided; there are behaviors to be avoided out of a desire to live the Godly way, but avoiding behavior will never make us righteous even with all the striving involved. There are wonderful religious acts to be performed, but those religious acts do not make us any closer to God. Religion with all of its sacrifice and hard work will never make us righteous or Godly. The only way we know God is through Jesus Christ. This Jesus way is the simple way. This Jesus way is the way “wise and learned” people miss because relying on wisdom and learning is relying upon traits of our own personal merit. This Jesus way is the way of childlike faith. I believe Jesus Christ is everything He claimed to be; I believe Jesus Christ is everything the Bible claims Him to be. I find my rest in relying on nothing and no one other than Him. The yoke is easy and the burden is light because I have stopped striving to make myself righteous. Jesus Christ is my hope. Jesus Christ is redeeming and refining the sinful person that I am. Religion and rules and institutions and rituals are powerless to accomplish the redemption that I desperately need. Simply trusting Jesus and walking with Him by faith is the straight and narrow way that brings me to that refreshing place of rest!
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AuthorTim Young is a follower of Jesus Christ. He is married to Sue and is the father of 4 children and 11 grandchildren. Beyond his faith and family Tim is passionate about hiking, backpacking and fitness. He lives in Southwest Missouri in the Ozarks. Archives
January 2020
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