Matthew 11:28-30 Perspective

Matthew 11:28-30 The Message (MSG)

^28-30 “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.”

You may not recognize this passage in The Message, but it is where Jesus says to join Him because His burden is light.

I love how this version stated Jesus' invitation to join Him. To get His perspective. To walk in His directives, not in my own. To learn from Him.

I especially love the line, "Learn the unforced rhythms of grace."

Being a follower of Jesus does not have to be labor intensive. But it must be intentional. Living as Christ lived is not easy, but it is freeing. Too often I can get caught in the "immediate." What do I have to do today for work? Who needs me to be where? What spinning plate have I let fall? And I forget to maintain perspective. If I would just look at what is happening in the world around me - near and far - I would begin to see my little "to do" list in a different light.

God calls me to work - but my job is not my most important "occupation." God calls me to be available to others. But my most important relationship is with Him. God calls me to diligence. But are all my plates God-appointed?

Jesus is calling me to walk alongside of Him and only Him in everything I do. I want to walk with Him and learn the unforced rhythms of grace. 

Father, teach me to remain focused on You and not the immediate. To grasp the power of Your Presence and not the pull of my calendar. Train me in the way of the unforced rhythms of grace so I may be more like you. So be it.

Further Thoughts:

1. In what ways have you lost perspective? How do you regain it?
2. How do you maintain "life" and keep your focus on Jesus?
3. What does it truly mean to live in the unforced rhythms of grace? 

 

Ephesians 5:1-2 "Monkey See, Monkey Do"

"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." NIV

"Imitate" and "love" -- sounds easy enough. Since I was a little girl, I've loved to mimic. Once when I was about ten, I pretended I was Ginger Grant from Gilligan's Island. I pursed my lips like her and spoke in a sultry voice. My mom really burst my bubble when she said, "Honey, you ain't ever going to be sexy." She wasn't trying to be mean; after all, I was a freckle-faced tomboy. But I'd act in character every chance I'd get. Still love to act and pretend to be someone else. So I think I've got this imitate thing down.

And love, how hard is that? I love my husband, and my kids, and my friends. I love to read; I love dark chocolate; I love Sunday afternoon naps. That's not so tough, right?

But then this verse throws in some qualifiers that change the entire picture. First, I am to imitate God! You might as well say I should grow two heads and five feet. It just ain't gonna happen.... But wait, it didn't say that I am to be exactly like God and incorporate ALL his attributes. I am to imitate Him; not the real thing but a likeness of God. I love that it says, "as dearly loved children." Just as we hope that our children will follow the examples we are for them, so God, who loves us more than we love ourselves, wants us to follow in His "footsteps." We have a big parent to live up to, but we also can't choose any better hero to imitate. Can't get any higher than the Almighty Creator of the Universe. And the cool part is, we already have His Spirit living within us. We just have to surrender to it and "put on the new self" that is like Him.

Then that love thing. I'm guessing it's not talking about my dark chocolate. Christ's love was completely sacrificial. Not only did He provide through His love a way of salvation for me, but also demonstrated how I am to love -- with all my being. And in this way, my life can become a "fragrant offering" to my Father.

When my kids were babies, I LOVED smelling their little heads. There is just nothing sweeter than the smell of a baby's head. (In fact, I still love to smell their heads. They think I'm weird.) But I imagine that when I show love -- truly show love -- to my fellow man, it pleases my Father so much that He leans down and breathes in deeply from the top of my head, relishing the sweet fragrance of His child.

Father, teach me how to live like you, imitating your every move. And fill my entire being with Your love so I can share the love of Christ with others through my actions and words. I need more of You, Lord.

Further Thoughts:

1. How is the Jesus/Disciples' relationship an example to us as to how we are to live our lives? Give examples from Scripture.
2. Does it hurt the Father when we choose to act contrary to His character? Support your answer with Scripture.
3. What does the Old Testament say about fragrant offerings and what God thinks of them? How do they correlate to the way we live our life now?
4. Is it possible for us to love like Christ? How? Support with Scripture.
5. Spend some time looking into the "mirror" of your life. Where are you imitating God well, and where does there need to be more "putting on" happening?