GraceIn Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus is quoted as saying, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light."  

The Message Bible puts it this way: "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 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."

Jesus comes to give us rest from our burdens. However, we must yoke ourselves to him and learn from him. He is humble and gentle. He wants us to find rest for our souls. His yoke fits perfectly and it is intended to be a light burden not a heavy one.

If we are overly stressed then maybe we are taking on other people’s yokes or burdens and not the Master’s one, which is uniquely designed for us. How’s the weight today?

There is to be a joy in our walk with God and our ministry for him. There is a freeedom and a lightness in which we are to live – almost a carefree attitude and approach. We are not God. He is. Adjust your expectations to be in line with his. Burnout results from us taking on more than we should and living at a pace faster than we should be going. There is a time to work and there is a time to rest, wasting time with God and simply enjoying his world.

Learn the rhythms of grace which include a balanced oscillation between activity and rest, work and play, engagement and disengagement.

God's call is not 'heavy' – a weight that we lack the power to bear or carry.

God's call is not 'ill-fitting' – it matches the gifts and shape in which he has created us.

God's call is 'free' and 'light' – there is a joy and an excitement in it. You can do this! It's not beyond you; it's within your reach. Christ is with you and for you.

[CityLife Church 2013 Bible Reading plan]