Rest and Grace

Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG) 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”

This loose translation of the passage where Jesus says, that his yoke is easy and his burden is light is inspiring. Because it talks about a rest that comes out of being in the same rhythm as God.

This is to much more than not doing anything, or putting your legs up.

The rest that Jesus offers is not rest FROM work, but rest IN work.

After that grand introduction Jesus gives three examples of how this looks like:

To get fed by the bread of the presence of God (Mat. 12:4)

We need to encounter God. It is His Word that feeds us. There is a nourishment of the soul that only comes through encountering Him.

To serve in the house of God (Mat 12:5)

Serving in the house of God is not so much about me, myself, and I, but about creating a community where everybody can experience the rest of grace.

To be restored by the word of God through faith (Mat 12:13)

Faith is the ultimate rest. It’s saying: You are God, and you are good. You can do, what you say you can do. So I will do what you tell me to do, even if it sounds impossible. The man with the withered hand was commanded by Jesus to stretch his hand. That very thing, he couldn’t do! But His Word enabled him and faith gave way for the restoration of the mans hand.

If you feel tired, from connect group, church, being a christian is just a burden, maybe you fell into he trap of religion. In that case:

Go back to the first thing: Get fed by the presence of God.
Or try the second: Serve, by bringing others to a God encounter, you will get refreshed. Or to the third: Ask yourself where your faith is stretched by the word of God. And stretch.

What ever you need to do to stay fresh, rested and alive, do it today.

I pray you can rest IN HIM today.

Simon