Jump Start # 3166

Matthew 11:28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

I’ve noticed a trend on Facebook. It starts with a headline to grab your attention. “Experts say…” is usually how it begins. Experts say here are five fashion items you should no longer wear. Experts say here is seven decorating No-Nos that you need to quit doing. Experts say here are three foods that you should never keep in your refrigerator. On and on and on, the advice is given to us by the experts. The experts know. And, we are supposed to do what the experts tell us.

Now, I admit that I an a rebel at heart. And, when the experts say this is what you need to do, I always fight that. It’s interesting that the experts are never revealed. Who are they? What makes them experts? Why are their opinions better than my opinion? Those are the thoughts that I generally have.

Our verse tells us to come to Christ. He is the expert. He proved it. His credentials authorize it. The testimony of the Father demonstrates it. We need to listen to Jesus. His opinion, which is really not an opinion, must come before my opinion. And, when that rebel spirit rises up in our hearts to resist what He says, we must realize that He knows. He speaks from the standpoint that He is trying to help us. He loves us. He loves us so much that He gave His life for us.

Our lives are not only flooded with the opinions of experts on Facebook, but the advice of family and friends often comes across the same way. You must do this. You have to go here. We hear things like that all the time and when we don’t do what they say, they get upset. They have assumed the role of the expert in our lives.

The following verse in this context, Jesus tells us to learn from Him. He describes Himself as gentle and humble. And, not only does He have something to teach us, but He has walked that walk Himself. He knows. Following Him is what we should do. Following Him is what we must do.

The problem with opinions is that there are too many and everyone thinks that their opinion is the only one that counts. People can get a bit fussy when you don’t do what they think you should. Running the life of others has become a true profession for many people. The trouble is that often they haven’t run their own life very well. That’s the difference with Jesus. His life was perfection. His words were always timely. He was never out of place. He never had to apologize. He never over stated things. He never spoke out of turn.

I was helping a friend with his budget one day. He brought a sheet of paper with all his numbers and expenses on them. He wanted me to see his numbers. He was interested in trying to save money. I saw that he was tipping nearly 50% for his haircuts. That’s way too high, I told him. Immediately, he said, “that’s what I was told to do.” Yep. Right there, someone’s advice and someone’s opinion. Don’t know who told him that, unless it was the person cutting his hair. And, that shows us that often advice, opinions, and even the experts are not right.

Now, start fitting these thoughts into faith, worship and religion. The experts say, or, I think we ought to…and before long you have a confused mess in the religious community like we do these days. Every opinion is right and nothing is wrong. That’s what we are told.

I am the way, the truth and the life, is what our Lord says. There’s really only one voice that matters, the words of Jesus.

I think the next time I come across another of those, “The experts say,” on Facebook, I’ll just pass right on by. It might do us all a lot of good if we did that.

Roger

Jump Start # 2023

Matthew 11:28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Our verse today begins what is commonly called the great invitation of Jesus Christ. There are several remarkable thoughts that we do well to just look at carefully and thoughtfully.

First, it is remarkable that Jesus wants us. His call is for us to come to Him. He, alone, is the answer that the world needs. He, alone, is the answer that you and I need. This invitation of Jesus, is found illustrated in the manner Christ walked upon this earth. He wasn’t secluded. He wasn’t unapproachable, hard to find, or kept away from the crowds. It was just the opposite. Friend and foe found easy access to Jesus. They begged Christ to come to their home to heal family members. They interrupted Him while He was teaching. Martha did that. The man who wanted Jesus to settle a family inheritance did that. Come to Me, is the call of Jesus. He didn’t have body guards. He didn’t have front men screening people.

Second, this invitation, or call, goes to those who are weary and heavy laden. Jesus is inviting people who are tired. Not tired because they have been up all night. Not tired because they have been on a long journey. But those who are tired of life. They are tired of being beat up by life. They are tired of failing. They are tired of guilt. They are tired of sin. The “heavy laden,” is what life does to it. The demands. The guilt. The burdens. The failures we make because we haven’t followed Christ. We are worn out, beat up, and defeated.

This is who Jesus is calling. It’s not the best. It’s not those who have their act all together. It’s not those who are spotless and near perfect. No, it’s the other end of the line. It’s those who are tired, dirty, dragging their feet. They have chased the dollar and didn’t find anything worthwhile. They have lived without God and that got them no where. They have bowed to idols and those idols provided no help. They are tired of being alone. They are tired of being scared. What a group of people. The spiritual homeless. The spiritual lost. The spiritual failures. Our names would be right among them. Many do not recognize that they are weary and heavy laden. They are sinking lower and lower in sin and doing more and more wrong things, but that’s all they know. Another day is but another day without God. For so many that will be today. No prayers to start the day. No Scriptures to help mold their thoughts and character today. No desire to be a servant to others. No shame in having a foul and offensive mouth. But for some, this is getting old, very old. They are miserable, tired and wondering what happens at the end.

Third, Jesus calls them to Him to find rest. Come to Me, is the invitation. Many have misread this. They say, “Come to Me,” but what they mean is “Go to church.” We need to gather with the church family to worship. That is Biblical, expected and helpful. But the rest doesn’t come from the church. We are the church. Just as “the people” are the government, the “saved” are the church. We are former weary and heavy laden people. We are people who have found rest. The help didn’t come from within us. It’s not us who can help others. It’s Jesus. Come to Me, is what Jesus says. Thousands flock to church buildings every week. They love the singing, the feeling and the atmosphere, but deep down, that weariness lingers. The church doesn’t solve the problems. The church can’t. It’s Jesus. We can preach the church so much that a person might get the impression that we do not need Jesus. How mistaken that is.

Fourth, Jesus tells the weary to come to Him. “Come to Me,” are the words. That takes some action on our part. That involves getting up and getting out of that chair. We want God to come to us. We want to sit in our chair, watching TV and then God comes and fixes our problems. We say a simple prayer and we want all things to be made right, hopefully by the morning. God fix my finances. God fix my mate. God fix my kids. God fix my boss. We want to sit back and have God do all the work. The call here is for us to come to Him. Jesus didn’t say, “I’m coming to you,” but rather, you come to Me. That takes some doing on our part. That means we must have some drive about us. The guy with the lazy bones, won’t come. He’ll wait and wait for God to come to him, but that’s not the reading of this passage.

Fifth, what follows is what we do when we come to Jesus. Two action words, Take and Learn. Take my yoke—that means direction. Yokes were put around oxen to pull carts. We can carry these burdens because we now have a yoke that allows us to do that. Then, Learn from Me. Learn. What do we see in Jesus? We see righteousness. We see obedience. We see faithfulness to the word. We see compassion. We see a servant. We see someone busy spiritually. We see goodness. We see that. Do we learn that?

Now, where is it that you and I will see these things and learn these things? Obviously, in the Scriptures. We open the N.T. and we see, learn, believe and become. It doesn’t take too many pages in the N.T. to get the idea that we often have too much of us in us. Selfishness blinds us. Selfishness feeds greed and jealousy. Selfishness resists changing and admitting wrong. Come take. Come learn. This is where you’ll find rest. The rest offered by Jesus doesn’t fall from Heaven like manna. There are actions on our part. Could it be that I’ve never taken the yoke of Christ? Could it be that I’ve never learned from Christ? “Well, I go to church,” someone says. Great. But are you putting on the yoke of Jesus and learning from Jesus?

I often fear two things come out of that learning part.

First, some never learn. They come and sit. They come and stare. They never build a bridge from the preached word of God to their own lives. They come year after year, but they remain the same. They have never learned.

Second, some have learned facts, but they never learned to become. They could name the rivers, find the cities on a Bible map. They could tell you the names of the judges, the apostles and the books of the Bible in order. They know a bunch of stuff about the Bible but they have not learned to become like Jesus. They are not changed. And in all of this, they still lack that rest that Jesus offers.

The rest is forgiveness from sins. The rest is hope in a world that is lost. The rest is peace of mind. The rest is pleasing your God. The rest is confidence and assurance that is wrapped in the grace of God. Death is no longer a fear, not when one is in Christ. The thoughts of the day are about glorying God. Opportunities to serve are sought out every day. You find that you have changed. You are more interested in Him than you are yourself.

Come to Me and Find rest for your souls. It’s there. Do you have it today?

Roger

Jump Start # 555

Matthew 11:28 “Come unto Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”

These words from our Savior catch our attention and welcome us to Him. Rest—sweet rest, is such an inviting thought. Vacations are often referred to as “R & R” – rest and relaxation. Many come back from a trip worn out and frazzled. They need a vacation from the vacation. Driving down highways we find “rest stops.” In restaurants, there are “restrooms.”  Years ago, homes for the aged were called, “Rest homes.” The word “rest” has found a place in our language, but often not in our lives. We awaken early in the morning, tired. We moan, ‘give me a few more minutes,’ hit the snooze button on the alarm and roll over in bed. Moms will sometimes declare, “I’m stick and tired of all this mess.” Sick and tired—she wants relief. She wants something done. She wants rest from picking up after others.

The rest that Jesus offers has nothing to do with mattresses, beds, vacations, clean houses, or a break from the routines of life. There is another kind of rest, a rest for our souls. Jesus is inviting weary souls to find rest.

• Jesus called the weary and heavy-laden. Those who are tired and worn out. Tired of a messy and miserable life. Tired of failing because of sin. Weary of carrying guilt, shame and a past. Heavy-laden with the mistakes in life. Jesus is talking about the consequences, the fear, the worry that comes with sin. Sin is much more than simply doing something you were not supposed to. Sin comes in a package. It’s that package that most fail to see. Sin changes things. It changes our attitudes, how we view things, and it changes us. Sin hurts those around us. Because of sin, we let others down who were counting on us. The guilt, neglect, selfishness and harm of sin is like a walking with a chains and a ball around us. There is a scene in the movie, Christmas Carol, when Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his old accounting partner, Jacob Marley.  The ghost is chained and drags those heavy chains as he visits Scrooge. Weary and heavy-laden—similar picture.

Jesus gives you rest. It comes in the form of salvation. Forgiveness for those past wrongs. A second and new chance in Jesus. Acceptance and fellowship with God. Freedom. Those heavy chains released. Those shadows of shame gone. Rest. A spirit that is fresh, alive, and joyful in the Lord. You know how you feel after a good night’s rest. You awaken feeling great and ready to get at it. The rest Jesus talks about is much more than a feeling, it’s a relationship. Things  have changed once again and again you have changed. Sin changed you, now Jesus changes you. In Jesus you found what is good, right and that comes with a plan and a purpose.  Alive in Jesus—what a great expression and a great relationship that is.

Rested souls—that’s what is found in Jesus. What are rested souls like? Souls that have found this rest, don’t cling to the past. It’s gone. They don’t dwell on their mistakes and failures. They don’t continue to beat themselves up. They found forgiveness in Jesus. Souls that have rest are free to concentrate upon Jesus and His kingdom. Sharing the story of Jesus, helping weary people find the Lord, building the kingdom—this is the work for those who are not weary.

When a basketball team has weary players the coach sends in the subs. Weary players make mistakes. They are not sharp. They get beat down the court. They start losing. Is it any different in life. The fresh players are fast, alert, crisp and can turn the game back around. Rest in Jesus.

Worry, guilt and fear are the three ugly sisters of the soul. They seem to hang together. Where you find one, you’ll soon find the others. They remind us of what we’d like to forget. They limit us, defeat us, and drain us of our energy. Some folks are experts in passing out the guilt. Parents become good at this, especially to their grown kids. Using guilt, they force people to do things for them. They shame them into what they want. We fall for this. We add layers and layers of guilt upon us and we return to those heavy chains of failure.

It’s time to boot those ugly sisters out of your heart and out of your life. Someone can offer guilt, but you don’t have to accept it. Refuse the gift. Live rested in Jesus. If you did wrong, apologize, seek forgiveness, first from Heaven and then from those you hurt, and then move on. For some, that’s not enough. This is why they invite the three ugly sisters into your life. Worry, guilt and fear show up. You’ve done what you should. Refuse it. Don’t go backward to the past, go forward with the Lord.

Some churches pass out guilt more than they do the collection plates. People go to worship God and leave feeling like a heal. The preacher got his degree from the school of guilt and shame and he loves to remind you how terrible you are. Mistakes and wrongs of others are talked up and down and all around. You’d think in a house of God, where God is praised, that rest would be found there. Often it’s not. Some leave church services feeling worse than when they came in. It doesn’t take much of that for a person to say, “forget it, I don’t need that.”

Worry, guilt and fear—they don’t stand a chance with the rest that Jesus offers. A rested heart is a heart that can look at the past, present and future with confidence in the Lord. Jesus offers you rest. Do you have it? If you do, it will show.

Roger