“Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. “The Father has given me all these things to do and say. This is a unique Father-Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge. No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does. But I’m not keeping it to myself; I’m ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen. 28-30 Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:27-30 (The Message)
I love this! Did you catch all the goodness?
Jesus wants to share Himself with us. He wants to tell us all the greatness, goodness, power, peace, mercy, grace, and plans the Father has for us. He will go over them with us, line by line, step by step, if we are willing!
And what does it take to be willing? It takes lining up with Jesus. We must turn away from unbelief and dead religion.
Jesus has His hand stretched out to us, “Come to me,” He says. Can’t you just picture His compassion, the deepness of His eyes? He wants you. He wants me.
Other Bible versions of these verses speak of us taking on the yoke of Jesus which is easy and light. Often when we think of a yoke we think of something heavy and uncomfortable, but Jesus used this word picture for a very specific reason. Whenever a yoke is used it requires those yoked to move as one. Horses yoked together go nowhere if they don’t move together.
If we are to slip on the yoke of Jesus we are saying to Him, “Yes, Lord, I want to be in step with you. I want to walk with You learning Your unforced rhythms of grace. I want to be in step with You Jesus! Together with you side by side, in sync, not at different tempos or opposite directions, but together!”
It is time to stop going your separate way on your own power. It’s time to stop yanking on the yoke. When we come to Jesus and line up with Him, He gives us the spiritual rest and peace we so desperately need.
Your Savior has a message for you, “I want you! Come, get away with me! Let me show you the steps to this dance, this dance that requires Me and you. Step here and twirl there. Bend now and dip on My count. Rest your head on My shoulder and feel My arms enfold you. I love you… Follow My lead, learn My rhythms of grace!”
Beautiful!
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