Taking Only His Yoke

"Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light." -Matthew 11:29-30
 
In our busy world, it is easy to get involved in so many things. When life gets complicated, often it can birth many children! 

Because we have such a limited amount of time on earth, it is essential that we use our time where we are best suited or called. The Message version of the above verse states, "I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you?ll learn to live freely and lightly."
 
The problem lies in what we feel obligated to. We may not want to let someone down or lose our reputation. It is wise to be accountable; it is prudent that we follow through. But, we need to know our limits. The magic word for this problem is, "no." Jesus challenged His disciples to put Him first, even before friends or family. (Luke 9:59-62) 

Even when Jesus was in full pursuit of His purpose, sometime He had to say "no" to the multitudes to get some rest for He and His disciples. (Mark 6:31) Although He was God, He knew the limitations of a mortal frame. 

Are there any yokes (or burdens) you are carrying that God has not called you to bear? Pray about those today and ask God which ones He has called you to bear. I believe the saddest thing we could do is exchange busy (obligatory) work for the work of our true calling. Let God lead you in this today.

Things I Cannot Comprehend

"I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand. I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say." -Job 40: 4&5

Have you ever marveled at the greatness God?  There are so many things that I cannot understand or comprehend.  My human mind just can't process it.

For instance, I cannot comprehend:

• How God knows each of us, intimately and personally; how he knows the number of hairs on each of our heads (Luke 12:7)
• How He created the world, simply by speaking (Genesis 1:9-12)
• How God created the universe, all of the planets and millions of stars (Genesis 1:14-17)
• How God created people - in His image - with the most complex body system of any other living creature on earth (Genesis 2:7)
• How God parted the Red Sea on behalf of the Israelites (Exodus 14)
• How He created Jesus, and Jesus, through Himself, gave us the power to overcome death (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20)

I suppose that is why we need faith - to overcome our natural mind.  "For the LORD Most High is awesome. He is the great King of all the earth." Psalm 47:2

Does your faith surpass the things you may not understand?  This childlike trust on our part reveals our place in the kingdom of heaven.  (Matt 18:3)  Decide to believe & trust Him today. 

Great Followership

"At once they left their nets and followed him." -Matthew 4:20

What makes a great follower? Why should we be great followers? Becoming a selfless follower is one of the biggest proving grounds for becoming a leader. We need to learn to lay down our own agenda. A great follower will more than likely produce a great leader. Conversely, poor followers make poorer leaders.

Jesus was the greatest example of serving his followers by laying down his life. He did the most menial task you could have done back in those days as an act of service to them; he washed their feet.

"He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, 'Lord, are you going to wash my feet?' Jesus replied, 'You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.' 'No,' said Peter, 'you shall never wash my feet.' Jesus answered, 'Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.' - John 13:6-8

Simon McIntyre, in his book Follow the Leader states, "...people who grasp at leadership and try to bypass the apprenticeship of followership only demonstrate their misunderstanding of the purpose of leading." He goes on to say, "(Servants) are strong, intelligent, confident people living successful lives. They are able and willing to take on roles of service because they are confident in themselves and not so insecure as to feel that taking on sometimes menial tasks might be beneath their dignity. They are following the example of Jesus..."

We might think of serving another person as demeaning and self-effacing. This is in fact the point of serving - to get past ourselves.

Elisha followed Elijah. Joshua followed Moses. Joseph served Potiphar. The disciples followed Jesus. Sometimes we need to lay down our agenda in order for God to truly birth His plan and purpose in us. One of the ways He does this is through calling us to serve another man's vision. We need to realize it is not all about us.

Who are you following right now? Are you serving them to the best of your gifts, talents, and abilities?

My Only Hope

"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." 1 Peter 1:18-19

When I was younger, I was really seeking God. I was hungry, and my heart was craving a true experience with a living God. I had grown up in a stuffy church that seemed rather phony to me, and I was looking for something real, something authentic. I would pray to God as a teenager, but I had a really hard time hearing Him or feeling His presence in my life. This led me to check out New Age as a way to extend my faith.

Well, it was cool for a while. They did Reiki and meditation and other things that I thought was drawing me closer to God. It was real, for sure. But at one point at one of the meetings, I felt a dark heaviness come over me. I knew it wasn't what God wanted. I cried out to Jesus to help me, and the darkness went away. I determined not to go back there again.

Several months later, I attended a church where the Holy Spirit was active. I really enjoyed that church, and although I had a lot of "church hurt" to get over I really grew and matured there. I had finally found the authentic faith and relationship with God I was looking for that was real. I really felt God's presence in my life and I could feel it in others. This was the truth.

Today we're called closed-minded if we say Jesus is the only way to heaven. But if I gave someone directions to my house and they got lost because they didn't follow them, what can I do? God sent His son Jesus to die on our behalf, and Jesus is alive for our lives today. The Holy Spirit is active on the earth helping us with anything we may need. He is called the helper. (John 14:26)

Sometimes if all we've experienced is superficial religion we can write Christianity off as counterfeit. But we have to get in a place where the truth of God can be ministered to us.

Do you experience God's presence on a daily basis? Have you felt His activity in your life? Have things happened to you that you know could only be God? If you haven't yet, seek Him out. God says we will find Him when we seek Him with all of our hearts. (Jer 29:13) I know that was true for me.

Having Good Boundaries

"Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control." -Proverbs 25:28

Have you ever heard the term 'boundaries' before? The word may conjure up images of a fence or a wall, but the idea of boundaries has come up in recent years as it relates to our emotional and spiritual health and interactions with others. Drs. Cloud and Townsend have written a great book on the subject entitled Boundaries. Why are boundaries important?

Boundaries give order to our lives, and our world. If we didn't have them, our lives would be out of order. Imagine if you always stayed up late and got up early. You would always be exhausted. Your work would suffer, your relationships would suffer, and so would your health. Exercise habits, sleep schedules, dietary choices, time management, financial management, and relationships are all about good or poor boundaries. The Bible talks about boundaries. In the garden of Eden, God gave Adam and Eve both freedom and boundary. The Ten Commandments are a set of boundaries that God set up to help us be successful in life.

Perhaps the most elusive type of boundaries are the ones we need to have have with others. They may or may not make sense to us due to the way we were raised.

Recently a friend was sharing with me an experience she had had over the holiday between her and a family member of hers. This family member had said aloud that he did not like her music, (she is a musician), which was fine, but the statement came across as rude and belittling. She told him he was that he was entitled to his own opinion, but that she didn't appreciate the belittlement. He later apologized for his behavior.

The stronger we become in Christ, the stronger our boundaries become. But, this doesn't mean we shut people out. Conversely, we are in a better position to give and receive love. We are safe to be ourselves because we have set good boundaries in place in order to do so. As we realize more and more about God's nature and character we realize how He operates. He invites us to live within certain boundaries so that we can live a free and holy life, pleasing unto him, and a blessing to those we encounter.

Where are God's boundaries? What kind of boundaries should we have as His children? Make sure you are not a "city without walls" so that God can use you greatly for His kingdom.

Dealing with Betrayal

"So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe - the ornate robe he was wearing- and they took him and threw him into the cistern." -Gen 37:23 & 24  

Have you ever had something happen to you that wasn't fair?  Have you ever been falsely accused or wrongly judged?  It is in these situations where our emotions can get the better of us.  But, we have to stand firm and "be the bigger person" in order to see the fulfillment of God's purposes in our lives.  

Joseph was betrayed by his brothers - he was betrayed by his own family! Isn't it interesting that the people who should have been his biggest advocates were his betrayers?  Joseph had to trust God. Even during his time in the Egyptian prison he had to remain pure and avoid becoming bitter. His obedience was what allowed him to rise, even in the midst of false accusations.  

When people do wrong to us, we must be the bigger person.  Even if the person should know better, if we feel ourselves getting angry or bitter, we must decide to be the bigger person.  Maybe someone has a limited understanding of something, even a leader.  Give them grace.  Maybe someone is acting out of fear and pain.  Give them space. It is a test we must undergo so that God's bigger purposes may be revealed in our lives.  

Have you ever been betrayed?  How did you respond?  Determine to forgive the person who wronged you.  Maintain an attitude of forgiveness.  Be the bigger person.  God works through vessels that let go of offenses and trust Him for the bigger plan. 



As It Is In Heaven

"And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven." -Matthew 16:19
 
You know, God gave us quite an incredible gift when He sent His son Jesus to die for us.  In addition to this free gift of eternal salvation, He also gave us many keys that, when activated, can move mountains on our behalf.  All He said we needed to have was a mustard seed of faith, and to keep asking (Matt 17:20, 7:7).

Recently a friend was going through a really difficult situation.  Something had happened with her place of residence, and she was facing undue eviction!  Understandably, she was very upset.  I said, "You know what?  God doesn't want you to be evicted.  He wants you to have a place to live that is safe and secure.  So since that is His will for you, we should pray that His will be accomplished on earth as it is in heaven." (paraphrase)  So that is exactly what we prayed!

It took several days for a decision to be reached about her eviction, but thankfully, the landlords decided to let her stay!  After she discovered that the motion was halted against her, she told me and we prayed and thanked God for His moving on her behalf.

Is there anything in your life that needs to be, "on earth, as it is in heaven?"  Pray with firm belief that the things you are hoping for will be manifest on the earth.  God can do incredible things through us, if we will believe.