Greetings Dear Reader,
”The Pharisees couldn't stand Him, but they found out they
couldn't stop Him.”
Almost from the beginning the Pharisees opposed Jesus. They were charged with understanding the Law
of Moses and caring for the people.
Instead they turned the law into a prison that they used to control and
rob the people. They heard Jesus
challenge their corruption and chose to protect their power over the truth.
I see so much of this today.
Those charged with the care of Christ followers burden them with practices
and pretenses that enslave them to a religion.
Instead of using the Gospel to free people it gets used to manipulate
them. Even this week, Holy Week is used to
promote practice over faith. Not
everyone does this but it still happens.
As a Christ follower my obligation is to assure that those
who are willing to come to Christ find the burden easy and light. It is my responsibility to attend to the
weighty matters of the law and by doing so assure that the Gospel reflects who
Christ is. The Gospel is about Jesus and
his redemption of humans.
I must not pack the Gospel with my brand of faith and
practice. I must assure that what I tell
others is clear and pure. I must assure
that I give accurate distinction between what is required and what is
preference. The latter does not matter
to anyone but me. The former must be
lived and shared whenever possible.
It is the Pharisees ancient and modern that drive people
away from Christ. It is failing to live
the Gospel in a way that honestly represents Christ and who he is that I must
avoid. Jesus made it clear that his
followers need to love others. He made
it clear that following him meant service and sacrifice. He took up the cross long before he met Pilot
who condemned him. That’s my King. I wonder if you know him.
Come
As You Are – David Crowder
Come out of sadness from wherever you've been
Come, brokenhearted; let rescue begin
Come find your mercy, O sinner, come kneel
Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't heal
Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't heal
Lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
O wanderer, come home
You're not too far
So lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are
There's hope for the hopeless
For all those who've strayed
Come sit at the table
Come taste the grace
There's rest for the weary
A rest that endures
Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't cure
Lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
O wanderer, come home
You're not too far
So lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are
Come as you are
Fall in His arms
Come as you are
There's joy for the morning
O sinner, be still
Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't heal
Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't heal
Lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
O wanderer, come home
You're not too far
So lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are
Wishing you joy in the journey,
Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer
who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home
owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure
store.”
(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
No comments:
Post a Comment