2021-07-23
Matthew 11:30 MSG
When we talk about rest, we often think about being physically tired and resting our bodies. But our minds need rest too. The Message paraphrases Jesus’ words in Matthew 11 this way: ‘I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and 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’ (v.28-30 MSG).
Notice the words, ‘I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.’ It’s good to know that we don’t have to worry about figuring everything out by ourselves or carrying burdens in our lives. It can actually be quite refreshing to realise that we don’t need to know everything about everything. We need to get comfortable saying, ‘I don’t know the answer to this problem, but I’ll try not to worry about it because God’s in control, and I trust Him. I’m going to relax in Him and “live freely and lightly.”‘
We might not find it easy to hand our problems over to God and wait for Him to show us the answer. We prefer to be the one in control, and trusting another, even if it’s God, can feel daunting. But when we’re struggling, overthinking, and overburdened with cares and worries, we need a mental and emotional break. Our minds need a rest from constant problem-solving, and our emotions need to rest from being upset. Worry robs us of rest and its benefits. So whenever we find ourselves worried and anxious, let’s try to remember that we can ‘live freely and lightly’ by resting in the assurance of God’s love, provision, and guidance.
Acts 24-26; Luke 9:18-27; Ps 1; Prov 16:10-15
Matthew 11:30 MSG
Jesus said: “I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and 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” (vv. 28-30 MSG).
Note the words, “I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.” It’s good to know we don’t have to worry about things, figure everything out, or carry the burdens in our lives. It can actually be quite refreshing to realize that we don’t need to know everything about everything! We need to get comfortable saying, “I don’t know the answer to this predicament, and I’m not going to worry about it because God’s in control, and I trust Him. I’m going to relax in Him and live freely and lightly!”
When we’re overburdened with the cares of life – struggling, laboring, and worrying – we need a mental and emotional break. Our minds need to rest from thinking about resolving problems, and our emotions need to rest from being upset. Worry robs us of rest and its benefits. So the next time you find yourself worried and anxious, remember, you can “live freely and lightly.”
All you have to do is rest in the assurance of God’s love, provision, and guidance. If someone asks you what you’re going to do about your problem, tell them you’re not thinking about it right now. If they ask you why, tell them you’ve turned it over to God, and you’re trusting Him to work it out for you.
Soul food: Acts 24-26; Luke 9:18-27; Ps 1; Prov 16:10-15
2021-07-22
Psalm 34:3 NKJV
Notice two things about the Lord’s Prayer. It begins with the words “Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name” (Matthew 6:9 KJV), and ends with “Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen” (v. 13). God wants you to begin and end your prayers thinking of Him. Why? Because it does you twice as much good to focus on God as it does to focus on anyone or anything else!
When you magnify an object, you enlarge it so that you can see and understand it more. When we magnify God, we do the same thing. We enlarge our awareness of Him, so we can understand Him more. This is what happens when we worship Him – we take our minds off of ourselves and set them on God. We put the emphasis on Him. In The Message, Eugene Peterson paraphrases the final words of the Lord’s Prayer this way: “You’re in charge! You can do anything you want! You’re ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes” (Matthew 6:13). Could it be any plainer? God is in charge!
Speaking of Jesus Christ, Peterson paraphrases Paul’s words like this: “God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules” (Ephesians 1:20-23 MSG). So when you magnify the Lord, you’re saying: “You not only rule the universe, you rule my heart!”
Soul food: Acts 22-23; Luke 9:1-17; Ps 65; Prov 16:8-9
Psalm 34:3 NKJV
Notice two things about the Lord’s Prayer. It begins with the words ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name’ (Matthew 6:9 NKJV), and ends with ‘For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen’ (v.13). God wants us to begin and end our prayers thinking of Him. It helps us to keep our focus on God and make Him our priority in life. Psalm 34:3 says: ‘Magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together.’
When we magnify an object, we enlarge it so that we can see and understand it more. When we magnify God, we do the same thing. We enlarge our awareness of Him, so we can understand Him more. This is what happens when we worship Him – we take our minds off ourselves and set them on God. We put the emphasis on Him. In The Message, Eugene Peterson paraphrases the final words of the Lord’s Prayer this way: ‘You’re in charge! You can do anything you want! You’re ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes’ (Matthew 6:13 MSG).
Speaking about Jesus Christ, Peterson paraphrases Paul’s words like this: ‘God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the centre of all this, Christ rules’ (Ephesians 1:20-23 MSG). So when we magnify the Lord, we’re saying: ‘You not only rule the universe, you rule my heart!’
Acts 22-23; Luke 9:1-17; Ps 65; Prov 16:8-9
Psalm 34:4 AFR53
Let twee dinge oor die Onse Vader op. Dit begin met die woorde: ‘…Onse Vader wat in die hemele is, laat u Naam geheilig word’ (Matteus 6:9 AFR53), en eindig met die woorde: ‘…Want aan U behoort die koninkryk en die krag en die heerlikheid tot in ewigheid. Amen’ (vers 13 AFR53).
God wil hê dat jy jou gebede moet begin en eindig deur aan Hom te dink. Hoekom? Omdat dit beter is om op God, as op enigiemand of enigiets anders, te fokus! Wanneer jy ‘n voorwerp groot maak, vergroot jy dit sodat jy dit beter kan sien en verstaan. Wanneer ons die Here groot maak, doen ons dieselfde. Ons vergroot ons bewustheid van Hom, sodat ons Hom beter kan verstaan. Dit is wat gebeur wanneer ons Hom aanbid – ons neem ons gedagtes van onsself af en fokus hulle op God.
In The Message, parafraseer Eugene Peterson die finale woorde van die Onse Vader as volg: ‘You’re in charge! You can do anything you want! You’re ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes’ (Matteus 6:13). Kan dit enigsins duideliker gestel word? God is in beheer!
Paulus sê: ‘Verder bid ek ook dat julle sal agterkom dat die krag van God wat in ons werk sterker as enigiets anders is. Ons het gesien hoe geweldig daardie krag regtig is toe God Jesus uit die dood laat opstaan en vir Hom die belangrikste plek in die hemel gegee het. Nou regeer Jesus natuurlik oor al wat mag of regeerder of koning is. Niemand, ek herhaal, niemand en niks sal ooit belangriker of sterker as Jesus kan wees nie; nie nou nie en ook nie in die toekoms nie’ (Efesiërs 1:19-21 DB).
Wanneer jy dus die Here vereer, sê jy: ‘U regeer nie net die heelal nie, U regeer my hart!’
Sielskos: Hand 22-23; Luk 9:1-17; Ps 65; Spr 16:8-9
