Just Rest

Matthew 11:28-30

"Come to Me all who are weary and heavy-laden, 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 or your souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light."

I think that I often make my own life tiring and burdensome. I'm wiped out! Still, that doesn't seem to keep me from saying no to new activities and responsibilities. Last night at church we studied a couple of the commandments - 'Remember the Sabbath, keep it holy." Jesus is questioned about keeping the Sabbath and in Mark He states, "the Sabbath was made for man, not Man for the Sabbath." Truthfully, I have not even thought about keeping the Sabbath at all in years, but it seems to me that these thoughts coincide. The point is that we need rest. God knew that we would need rest, so He took a break - while creating the world - to be our example. If God can take a break, why can't I? Is my pride really that out of control to think that whatever business and responsibilities I have are more important that God creating the world?

Its not just a day to sit on the couch and watch TV - its Jesus saying "Come to Me" and "I will give you rest - learn from me. I am gentle (not stressed and snapping at people) and humble in heart." This is the time you (I) spend with the Lord each morning - the time for rest, rejuvenation. However, just a little in the morning doesn't seem to be enough for me. I need more - more time in presence of God to learn from Him - to understand His yoke and His burden.

Matthew 6 - Give me an Undivided Heart!

As the Sermon on the Mount continues, Jesus moves forward with His theme of motivations. Chapter 6 deals with doing good works to be seen by men - going out of your way to make sure that people see you cleaning the church, watching the kids, etc. etc. Jesus says that people like this have their reward (currently) and that they are not investing in their future. He talks specifically about praying and fasting - the things that make us appear to be spiritual. Instead, He says to not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing - keep it quiet.

Matthew 6:19-21

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal, for where your treasures is, there your heart will be also."

Make an effort to keep your service to the Lord quiet. Do not sit and talk about what you do, check your motives before speaking. Keep your thoughts always before the Lord asking Him to show you the truth in them! In this way, you are laying up treasures in heaven - investing in your future and your heart (mindset/thoughts/motives) will be set on heaven - eternity. That's my goal. To live my life in light of eternity - with eternity always on my mind, shaping the way I see the world around me. God please help me. Show me what is inside of me. Weed out things that do not please You. Show me the truth of my motivations and clean them up so that I can store my treasure in heaven with You.

Matthew 5 - Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect!

This one chapter is pretty well stuffed with various insights. Mostly, they all seem to work together. Everything in here points to moving beyond the outward appearance and letting God change my heart. He gives me example after example of the difference between just following the law with my actions as opposed to having my motivations changed.... "You have heard it said... but I say to you..."

Jesus is talking about the Law in this chapter and about how He did not come to remove the law but to fulfill it. I don't understand that statement completely, but it seems as though the law is incomplete, unfinished. Jesus came to fill in the gaps. What was missing? I think it is the root motivations for obeying the law. The Jews were so caught up in doing everything just right that their focus was on What they were doing instead of on Why they were doing it. In the end, they missed the point completely. The law said not to murder - Jesus goes to the root and says "do not hate." The law says do not commit adultery - Jesus says, "don't even think about having an affair." He knew these things would be hard - impossible even - so He gave a bit of practical advice. "Whatever is causing (the root) you to sin, get rid of it - cut it off." Why? "Because its better to go without something than it is to lose everything." So I have to ask myself, "What causes me to sin? What do I need to get rid of? What do I need to cut off?" At the moment I'm not even sure.

Jesus cares about what is inside of me. He cares about why I do things (He cares about what I do as well. The why is what differentiates between two of the same action, one could be good and pleasing to the Lord and the other could be as filthy rags before Him).

The chapter closes with Jesus saying, "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." What completes my actions to make them perfect? My motivations.