Rest For The Weary

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.                                                                                                  (Matt 11:28 KJV)

Everyone gets weary from time to time. As I get older, it seems that I am more heavy laden than in years before. It may not seem like much to others. In fact, others may even say some of the things I take on are not mine to take on. 

The problem with that is that as a Christian I feel compelled to help those who are in need and so I take on more. I hope that when people are alone, I will be able to recognize that and be there for them. Yes, there are times when I may be taken advantage of. But, those rare times are not worth the giving up on others. And, who can tell if, even in being taken advantage of, others may come to know Jesus through you? 

When I am weary; I find rest; I find peace, in knowing that Christ is with me and inspiring me to do what I can for others.

There is rest for the weary. It comes with a relationship with Jesus.

May we always abide in Christ and Christ in us.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Free To Serve

For it is God’s will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance of the foolish. As servants of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil. (1 Peter 2:15-16 NRSV)

Just because we are free does not mean that we are free to do anything we want if it will harm others or ourselves. We belong to God. We are to care for all of his creation. We are to do what is right so that others may not use our actions to justify their own harmful actions or lifestyles. 

Over twenty years ago, I decided to quit drinking. It did me no good. My drinking also did not do anyone around me any good. The day I decided to quit was the day that I heard a loved one, who drank daily beginning at noon, say:  "Nothing wrong with a few drinks. Even Judy drinks." That floored me. I rarely drank. I do not believe that it is a sin to have an occasional drink or two. But, here was someone, that I loved, who used the few drinks that I did have every now and then as justification for them to live every day of their life inebriated. Bogus, for sure. But, I wasn't going to be someone else's excuse for destroying their lives. I quit. They, sadly, did not.

St. Paul wrote in his first letter to the Corinthians:

 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. (1 Cor 6:12)

and

“All things are lawful,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. Do not seek your own advantage, but that of the other. (1 Cor 10:23-24)

If what you do, even though it is lawful, will harm others and you are aware that it will hurt others then, please, just stop. We are free. We are free to seek not only those things that will be to our own advantage; but, free to seek the advantage for others, as well. We are not to use that freedom as a pretext for evil; as a pretext to harm others or ourselves.

God's Peace - Pr. J

His Way; His Thoughts

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."  Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV

It would be easy to give up and let the world have it's way with us. But, the Word of the LORD reminds us to seek Him and His Way. God's ways are not our ways. His thoughts are not our thoughts. Following in the way our ego would tell us go will only prove to be devastating to our lives and the world around us.  Our way would put ourselves before God. Our way would put ourselves before others. Our way would have us take advantage of others in order to gain what we want. That is not God's Way.

Our thoughts and our ways are not always what is best for us or anyone else. They often bring devastation to the world around us. But remember, that no matter how bad things may seem to get, God is still in charge. He can turn the greatest tragedy into the most marvelous triumph. From the most troubled time, He will lead us out in joy and lead us forth in peace, if only we would follow in His Way.

Seek the LORD and come to the One who knows the Way; to the One who is The Way. 

God's Peace - Pr. J