September 2, 2010
“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. 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.” Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus: The Inviting One … Part 1 of the JesusLife
Jesus never sends anyone away to find themselves. It is the way of our “old lives” to want to flee .. to hide .. to be alone .. to find my own peace of mind. That is an old life and it always ends up alone .. no matter how much comfort it wraps itself in. The life Jesus invites you to find is His life. He openly and without hesitation invites you to follow him or just come to him as you are. You don’t have to clean yourself up. You don’t have to show him how hard you’ve tried to do the right things. You don’t have to act a certain way for Jesus to invite you into His life. He already knows every pressure point in your life. He knows because He had the same pressures .. even more. He already knows how limited and futile your life becomes when you try to figure it out on your own. Your “old life” whispers that you have to do your part first before God will help. The life Jesus offers you is one that begins first with Him and continues in His life and in His love. Yes .. He knows where you are tired and what is making you tired. He knows where you are worn out and what is wearing you out. He knows how dry a religious life becomes without His indwelling life nourishing you deeply and intimately throughout the day. He knows what a real rest looks like in you. And still … Jesus invites you to walk alongside His life. He knows you may be suspicious or hesitant. He knows because He became you .. all the stuff inside you. You’ve already got enough heavy and ill-fitting issues in front of your life today. Do you hear what He offers you: “Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly”. Where will you find such a guarantee or invitation like this today? He only asks for a moment of your time. It may turn out to be life-changing. And it only takes a moment …
Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent M-F to Tired-Worn Out-Burned Out .. Refueled-Restored-Refilled Followers of Jesus and friends of Priority One (ken@priorityone.org) *** Please excuse the previous 9/1 entry’s errors. My unedited copy went out by mistake … Shalom!***
