Episode 15

TODAY’S READING:

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

 

I hope you are off to an amazing start to your day. It’s finally the weekend! 

 

2020 has been one crazy ride, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. We are learning lessons, and we are being stretched in ways we would have never imaged this time last year. 

 

While we continue to take precautions against the pandemic, and while we continue to fight for injustice, and while we continue to learn and stretch in new directions, I pray that we take some time for much-needed rest and we turn to Jesus. 

 

This verse is telling us when we are weary and burdened, and he will give us rest. I did some research on this verse, and it talks about how he isn’t referring to a physical burden, but the burden of up-keeping the law the Pharisees had over the people of Israel. He was saying the yoke of the Pharisees was a heavy burden, one that was self-righteous and legalistic. 

 

Trying not to break 600 laws was tiresome and a burden in itself. Jesus says, “come to me, my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Meaning, nothing you will do, no law you will keep will help you achieve perfection in the eyes of God. We will always fall short. 

 

He is essentially saying to stop worrying about the little things that turn into religious rituals and to start working on building a genuine relationship with him. His burden is light.

 

If there is anything I can encourage you with today, I encourage you to stop comparing your journey with others. I don’t care what you look like, where you’ve been, what you’ve done, what you wear. You are welcomed and loved in His eyes. Jesus is not looking for a perfect friend, and he already has a perfect father. Jesus is looking to build a genuine relationship with you. 

 

So this weekend, take a day to unwind. Take some time to sit in His presence. Write, draw, dance, meditate, read. Do something that connects you to Him. 

 

PRAYER

Jesus, thank you for being a safe place. A shelter when we are burdened. We are tired of trying to reach perfection. We are tired of fighting this pandemic, and we are tired of seeing hateful videos circulating the internet. Jesus, we are weary, and we are burdened, so we look to you and your gentle and humble heart. We take up your yoke. We promise to follow you. We promise to love you as you love us, and we promise to share that love with others. We ask that we say no to the things that distract us from building a relationship with you. We praise you today and every day! In your mighty name, we pray, Amen!