I'll never forget the summer I helped a local farmer pick watermelons. The
workday at my regular place of employment ended at 3:20 p.m., so I had plenty of
daylight to burn before dark. This particular summer I chose to spend those
hours making extra money in the watermelon field. The late afternoon
humidity-combined with soaring temperatures, was almost unbearable. Added to
this were the weeds…some as tall as me, that prevented me from feeling even the
slightest breeze sneaking through the baked field. Pick up, hurl onto the truck,
pick up, hurl onto the truck. My actions were repeated for four hours every day.
By the time I arrived home for a shower and bed, I could barely move. I was
weary and burdened.
Unfortunately, there have also been times when my weariness and burdens flowed
in the spiritual realm. "Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary
and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest…For my yoke is easy to bear,
and the burden I give you is light.'" (Matthew 11:28, 30 NLT)
Andy Griffith once remarked that while rules were good they sometimes get in the
way. Jesus accused the religious leaders of burdening the people with a bathtub
of rules that didn't cleanse them nor make their lives enjoyable. Rules are
important, but obeying them isn't what gains me acceptance with God and gets me
into heaven. A relationship with Christ does this. Having rules imposed from
outside sources gives me no inner motivation to obey. However when Christ enters
my life, he gives me an inner desire to obey his commands. And his commands are
not burdensome, nor do they make me weary. Obeying the One who gave his all for
me is enjoyable because I've had a change of heart and mind. As God's child, I'm
forgiven and accepted. I don't have to work to get Christ inside of me…he's
already there. I only have to permit him to work through me.
Are you weary of obeying legalistic rules that weary and burden you? Learn to
rest in Christ.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord Jesus, for freely giving us what won't weary or burden
us and what we could never earn by our best of efforts.
Martin Wiles
Hodges,
South Carolina, USA
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
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