Tuesday, January 8, 2013 -- The Great Invitation
Tuesday January 8, 2013
As we enter into this new year, Jesus invites us again to consider his wonderful invitation: Jesus said “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.” (Matthew 11:28-29 NIV)
Whether we are those addicted to drugs and alcohol who limp into a treatment center or those who live in quiet desperation behind some wall, without God we exist today, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually weak. We’re running on empty and it feels more like limping rather than running at all. We need to get strong. Some of us have diseases and wounds that need healing. Some are suffering from poor eating habits and need proper nutrition. All of us have minds that are confused and worn out. Our emotions are ultra-sensitive.
Jesus invites us today to stop and look to Him, and then look to our lives within the embrace of His love. Jesus invites us to let everything else go and just rest. We have many angry, bitter thoughts. We obsess on what solutions we think we need in order to have a life that works. We worry when we think we don't have what we need. The only place where we find what we need is in the love of God. The only way we learn how to obtain all that we are looking for is to listen to Jesus and what He says today.
In whatever way we need to detox today -- chemical from our bodies or lies from our minds -- we need Jesus to teach us how to do it. The ultimate broken condition of our lives is trying to know and fix ourselves based on what we know or what some other limited human being knows. Everything falls short except the way that Jesus shows us today. Others can point us to Jesus, can help us find His word that speaks to our situation, but only God has what we need today. Treatment programs can be safe havens while we learn to hear from God. Professional counsellors can give us good advice and life skills suggestions, but only God can give us the will and the power to know and do His will -- those things that will truly please and satisfy us and bring glory to God.
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Philippians 2:13, Romans 12:2 NLT)
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Philippians 2:13, Romans 12:2 NLT)
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