Heavy and Light

It was a small ladies Bible study around the table on our deck. God was blessing us with lovely weather and good conversation. I was unprepared for the full-blown glimpse I was about to receive.

The topic of the day was humility and we were going through a string of verses that held a variety of points. I admit that I hadn't paid much attention to that word in my previous readings of Matthew 11:28-30. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

We began to talk about the passage and one of the ladies made a comment that went something like this. "I know what a yoke is and they are heavy things. I don't see how a yoke could ever be called light. Actually, this verse doesn't make any sense to me at all." I began making my way through what I thought was a reasoned explanation by pointing out that the One who spoke the words was Jesus the Christ.

It was easy enough to talk about Jesus' call for those who are "weary and burdened" to come to Him for rest. That covers pretty much all of us living in this fallen world. I was able to mention some of the specific struggles that were tiring burdens for some of us. I paused before taking on the next sentence though. It's an interesting combination of directions and results.

Jesus seems to be telling those who are already dragging a heavy load to add the weight of a heavy farm implement. The key is that it is His yoke that he calls us to take on our shoulders. To make the point, I took out a pen and drew a simple yoke with two neckbands. Jesus isn't directing His people to pick up a dead weight and add it to the burdens we are already carrying. He's calling us to put ourselves under a yoke to spread out the burden.

I've learned a lot about yokes lately. Directions for making a yoke include measuring the animal. Time needs to be spent carving, sanding, and finishing the wood for a proper fit. It's not a complicated piece of equipment, but it is highly efficient for harnessing power. A pair of oxen under yoke are able to pull more than double the weight a single ox can handle on his own.

Sharing the load is only one benefit of a yoke. One of the ways to train a young or inexperienced ox is to yoke it with an older, experienced animal. The yoke itself becomes an educational method as the pair shoulder the weight-bearing task. The one needing the training is directly connected to the appropriate tutor making it difficult to miss the important lessons.

Jesus' call is not to take up just any yoke. It's His yoke that He wants us to put on. The goal is not merely to offload some of the weight of the struggles we face by sharing them with someone else. Jesus offers Himself as a yoke-mate. He is the One who will shoulder the weight; the weight of the yoke itself as well as the struggles. He wants us to be right next to Him that we might learn His ways.

I looked to the next phrase to continue my way through the passage - "for I am gentle and humble in heart". Right here in this particular analogy Jesus shares these two particular attributes. As with the idea of a heavy yoke being light, gentle and humble don't seem to be attributes to esteem when looking to accomplish a formidable task. What could gentleness and humility have to do with it?

I silently and earnestly asked the Spirit for help and picked up my pencil. To buy some time, I drew a simple yoke to illustrate what we were discussing and wrote J-e-s-u-s in the left neckband. Then it hit me. Jesus is describing His own heart condition when He is under His yoke. Our Older Brother is setting the example for coming under His tutelage as we make our way through this life.

I've often thought about being yoked with Jesus as His helping me manage burdens. I've even imagined Him pulling me along to keep my path nice and straight. But truly seeing the word humble for the first time in the analogy was a major glimpse. I shared the insight with the ladies in the study, but it was much more than that.

The study was over and the ladies were gone. I looked at my drawing and began to consider my own stiff-necked heart. I know I'm one of God's chosen and I look forward with biblical hope to eternity with Him. I also know that the trials of this life are too heavy for me. I want/need to be under Jesus' direct tutelage every moment. I thought about what it would take to come under His yoke.

To be humble is to be "not proud or arrogant; modest ... having a feeling of insignificance, inferiority, subservience ... courteously respectful." Interestingly, Webster's Unabridged Encyclopedic Dictionary of the English Language, Gramercy Books 1989, also gives the following examples. "I am humble in the presence of the starry firmament. I am your humble disciple in all things of the spirit."

Oh yes, I'm aware of my humble position before the holy, triune God. He has taught me well that it is in Him that I live and move and have my being. Acts 17:27 I can do nothing on my own to please Him. He is the One who works in me to will and to act according to His good purpose. Philippians 2:13 It is Jesus who presents me before the throne of grace. Hebrews 7:25 It is the Spirit who testifies on my behalf. Romans 8

Acknowledging these truths and many others, in my mind's eye I lower my head and come along side Jesus under His yoke. The neckband slips on easily and is a perfect fit. My soul is indeed at rest. The burdens of this life are lighter as my Savior and Lord shoulders them with and for me. He has much to teach me and I long to learn. Jesus is calling all of His children to bow their heads and take up His yoke. How about you?


"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Thanks and Glory

When I was a kid I was taught that a thank you note was an important piece of social etiquette. I'm not sure why that lesson stuck so securely to my life, but it did. When I became a mother I wanted to prepare my children for the grown up world and thank you notes became part of their lives too. In that process God showed me that expressing thanks was more about developing thankful hearts than meeting an unwritten moral code.

I've noticed that this small social grace has, for the most part, fallen out of fashion. Thankfully that never happens to God's Word. The Scriptures abound with the call for God's people to be thankful - actively, expressively thankful. Lately I've been pondering 2 Corinthians 4:15 and it has opened up a wider horizon on the topic of thanks-giving.

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

First, I had to look back to find out to what "all this" refers. The previous verses outline the assurance believers have of being raised to new life in and with Jesus. *1* These indescribable gifts are given "for your benefit." Since this book was written to the church of God in Corinth, I understand that the benefits are for followers of Jesus. *2*

"So that" implies there is a specific purpose for the aforementioned gifts to be given. I learn that God's grace is "reaching more and more people" as He calls His chosen ones to Himself with the desired consequence being the "overflow" of "thanksgiving." What more reasonable and expected result could there be from a heart redeemed from the wrath of a holy God, reconciled with the Creator, and secured for an eternity of praise, worship and service to the King of Glory? *3*

For me, the end of this verse is the most powerful piece, "to the glory of God". I have long sought to fulfill the ultimate goal of a grateful, fallen child's heart as described by the Westminster Shorter Catechism - The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever." I am thunderstruck by the possibility . . . probability . . . the reality that hearts overflowing with thankfulness for the gift of grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-10) actually bring glory to God! *4*

When one recognizes and comes to realize more fully the immeasurable parameters and value of the gift, thankfulness is the only possible response. As one ponders our own undeserving nature and imperfect performance, thankfulness erupts that God bases His covenant on His own character and not ours. As one considers the blessings of His daily presence and promised inheritance, thankfulness automatically overwhelms and flows forth from our being.

The very gifts that God Himself grants stimulate the heart condition of thankfulness that He craves and calls for from His chosen people. We can't help but tell others how loving are the ways of our Father, how compassionate is the ministry of The Son, how intimate is the counsel of the Spirit. Simply by telling others of God's amazing grace to me we are/I am enabled and empowered to reach the goal by The One who set it in place. Hallelujah!! *5*

I wonder what it would look like if God's people were to send a thank you note toward heaven every time they recognized one of His blessings. Would the halls be littered with envelopes? Would the gates wear out with mail deliveries? Would the air be filled with messages winging heavenward? Would our pockets be empty from the cost of postage?

Here's my tentative but confident beginning contribution to that scenario:

*1* Thank you, God, for your gift of salvation through Christ and the glorious eternal life in Your presence that awaits those who believe.
*2* Thank you, Father, for your personal gift of faith and the future you have in store for me.
*3* Thank you, Jesus, for your substitutionary and atoning sacrifice that grants the abundant life both now and for ever more.
*4* Thank you, Holy Spirit, for this fresh, illuminating glimpse.
*5* Thank you, perfect Triune God, for waking me up this morning in my right mind and setting me on my way. May you alone be honored and glorified. Amen

Economics and Neighbors

Economics is a major topic of conversation these days and for good reason. I confess that I try to avoid the raging dialogue and have been fairly successful in my efforts. This week God gave me a glimpse of His divine economics and it took my breath away.

I was in a serious conversation with a woman who was sharing her struggles with relationships. As I listened it seemed to me that her desire to please God by caring for others might be a bit out of balance. In an effort to make her love visible to those around her she was extending herself to the point of exhaustion. She was overspending in the area of finances, time, energy and peace.

This woman is a committed follower of the Lord Jesus Christ and rests in his righteousness alone. He has bound our lives up together and created a Titus 2 relationship. In that context I felt led to speak to her about the bigger picture I was discerning. I prayed and ventured forth.

We spoke deeply and candidly and God blessed the conversation. I prayed that he would give me a portion of Scripture to make the concept clear. The words of Jesus in the second half of Matthew 19:19 came to mind, "Love your neighbor as yourself".

I quoted the verse to the woman and she came right back saying, “If I was going to love my neighbor or anybody else the way I love myself, it would be pretty bad.” I was stunned - first because her response was so quick and certain, then because I recognized the truth of her remark, and finally because I wasn’t sure what to say next. I called out to the One who had given me the verse and asked for help. That’s when I learned about God’s “reverse economics”.

You see, Matthew 19:19 communicates more than what appears in the initial reading. Yes, Jesus calls his people to love others the way we love ourselves. Love for others is meant to be predicated upon, built on, the foundation of our love for our own selves. Now before we go too far with this self love idea we need to consider the words of Philippians 2:4, "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."

Both of these verses set up a balance between two parties, an equivalency. In order for us to love our neighbor, we must first love ourselves. The expectation that God’s people will look out for the interests of others comes from the expectation that they are already looking out for their own interests. The precepts of these verses can be considered in reverse order. God speaks to the importance of taking care of ourselves while speaking against selfishness.

Those who have trouble recognizing that they have needs and/or that they should seek the Lord to meet them, and even those who find it difficult to accept that they have value as his creation are often unable to approach these verses as others do. Rather, they need to consider how well they treat those around them and begin to apply the same standards to themselves. The person who empties their pockets to buy endless non-essentials for others, but goes without basic necessities themselves is not following the biblical mandate. They are also doing harm to those around them.

Those who are constantly having their whims met and are rarely expected to contribute and/or demonstrate mature godly behavior are being given a false sense of the world. They are certainly not learning the truth of who God is nor his standards and expectations. When the inordinate support falls away as it ultimately will, the immature and irresponsible are open to collapse. Only the balanced biblical love relationship brings growth in grace – not selfish but definitely not selfless either.

God’s Word is rich and full. We can read it from Genesis to Revelation and back again and be refreshed every time. I pray that our Father, His Beloved Son, and the Holy Spirit bless you through the precious gift of Scripture.

Jigsaw Puzzles and Busy Days

I have a jigsaw puzzle sitting on a portable table in my living room. Winter is the season when I enjoy putting puzzles together, but this one is waiting to be finished before I rebox it and return the table to the attic. My eyes wander to the unfinished task from time to time, but I haven’t been able to sit down and apply myself to it. I tell myself it’s because I’ve got too much else to do. Then I wonder if that’s really the case.

The truth is that there’s always plenty to do around our house. Even though there are only two of us somehow things still need to be cleaned and put back in order. It’s surprising how much time and effort it takes to coordinate the lives of two adults. Then there are the relationships and responsibilities that gather outside our door. They too seem to multiply as time passes. There isn’t really any time of year when my plate is empty.

Okay, I’ll confess. The parts that are left for this puzzle are the blue sky, the foliage on the trees, and a patch of grass. You get the idea - all of the areas that require serious concentration because there are few distinguishing details. When I get to this point in any puzzle it always takes a lot more time for each piece to be put in place. I guess it could be said that this stage is not as interesting or satisfying as the earlier ones.

Yes, I have a set way that I attack jigsaw puzzles. I begin by turning over the pieces, setting aside those with straight edges to put the outside edge together first. Then I choose an interesting object to put together, locating it approximately where it should be in the overall design. I’m a visual person so this stage is quite enjoyable as I make progress quickly and the picture takes shape.

The next stage is also enjoyable. I feel a surge of accomplishment each time I’m able to connect the various objects to each other and eventually fill in whole sections. It’s interesting how much time I’m able to “find” to work on a puzzle when I’m in this stage of the process. I’m not sure, but I think the laundry does itself on those days. ;-)

I shun large jigsaws with general patterns because I’m afraid they’ll be too difficult. I find the 1000 piece size puzzle with an interesting picture the most entertaining. I love getting the pieces to fit together right where they belong to recreate the image on the box. Nevertheless, I’ve noticed that I tend to reach the phase I’m currently in with almost every jigsaw puzzle project. It causes me to ponder.

I’ve decided that I’m glad that God is not the kind of puzzle person I am.

Thank you, Father, that you began this creation project at just the right time and in the perfect process. I rejoice that You know the edges from the middle, the top from the bottom, and the exact measurements to fit on the “table”. There’s no need for You to sort or set pieces aside because they’re all under your loving care. I am delighted, dear Abba Father, that my life is as dear to you as the entire masterpiece.

Thank you, God, that you never find the jumbled up pieces of any situation too difficult, no matter how large or small. Thank you that you are always interested in every detail, using each one to advance you plan. Thank you that you are never too busy to put the pieces of my life in order, applying joy, consequences, and contentment perfectly. My heart is filled with gratitude that You are not put off by intricate designs or patches of scenery.

I am thankful, my Lord and King, that you are able to work on more than one area of my life and indeed throughout the entire world at any given moment. I praise you that as you fit the pieces of your plan together you are molding each one for its own benefit as well as to complement and benefit every other piece as it contributes to the whole. May your Name be hallowed before the seen and the unseen world.

Abba Father, I rejoice that you are The One who created the world so you never need to wonder what it will/should look like. No referring to the cover of the box for You. Each piece, each day, each item will be in its place so that your masterpiece is complete on the day You have ordained. Oh what sweet rest there is in your sovereign arms. Hallelujah Amen