ODJ: the source of life
April 29, 2010
Then Jesus said, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (v.28).
READ: Matthew 11:25-30
An Amazon message board comment caught my attention recently. “I have a zillion books in my library,” Michele said in a discussion on New Age spirituality, “books on the Kabbalah, Golden Dawn books, The Zohar, books on the Tetragrammaton, Ernest Holmes books, Dalai Lama books, Ascension books, Christian Science books, Theosophical books, and on and on.” Michele’s vast reading left her confused. “I couldn’t assemble [their teachings] into a bottom line if my life depended on it. If the ultimate communion with Source relies somehow on endless ritual and recitation, all is lost to me.”
Michele longed to commune with the “Source”—with God—but felt disheartened by the contradictory teachings her mystical authors gave about how to do so. She was weary. Burdened.
Jesus addressed people like Michele. Many years before He came to earth, another Jesus—Jesus ben Sira—had called people to find soul rest by taking on the “yoke” of the Jewish Law through study and reflection (Ecclesiasticus 51:23-27). By Christ’s time, legalistic teachers had distorted that Law, adding long lists of rules to it. This “yoke” (originally a device worn on the shoulders to make a load easier to carry) now crushed the faithful (Matthew 23:4). The people longed for God, but were burdened with “rituals and recitations.”
Jesus gave an extraordinary invitation to these weary folks. “Come to Me,” He said. “Take My yoke upon you . . . and you will find rest for your souls” (11:28-29). With those shocking words Jesus claimed that He was the ultimate source of soul rest—not the teachers’ rituals or even the Law itself.
Jesus is the ultimate source of life (John 1:4). Come to Him today.
—Sheridan Voysey
If you knew Michele, how would you respond to her comments? Have you allowed any “rituals and recitations” to get in the way of your relationship with God?
Tweet This
Share on Facebook
Digg This
Save to delicious
Stumble it-
RSS Feed
Related
ODJ: why work?
March 17, 2011 Warn those who are lazy (1 Thessalonians 5:14). READ: Proverbs 12:24-13:4 Think back to a time when you were part of a team through school, church, business, volunteer work, or sports. With that experience fresh in your mind, answer the following: What was your team’s primary goal? Prepare a class presentation? Share [...]
ODJ: Monday To Friday
March 27, 2012 When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish” (v.4). READ: Luke 5:1-11 The words must have sounded naïve. I wonder if Peter even stifled a snigger. After a long, exhausting—and ultimately unsuccessful—night’s work, he was thinking [...]
feasting or fasting
June 26, 2009 Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast (v.15). READ: Matthew 9:14-15 Recently, I was asked to teach on the subject of fasting. I knew I was dealing with a subject that is not [...]
ODJ: divine tripping
April 21, 2010 If you let them go with your troops into battle, you will be defeated by the enemy no matter how well you fight. God will overthrow you, for He has the power to help you or to trip you up (v.8). READ: 2 Chronicles 25:1-9 In 2 Chronicles 25 we read about the [...]
Christian Courses
Day Of Discovery
Discover The Word
Discovery Series
Help For My Life
My Utmost For His Highest
Our Daily Bread
Our Daily Journey
RBC Ministries
WarungSateKaMu
Manasociety
雅米