Too often we promote the idea that as Disciples of Christ, life is all fun. In years past; yes I had fallen into mode of thinking we need to be “Seeker Sensitive”. I am sure that most preachers and teachers like me had the intention of making it easy for the lost and the unchurched to seek out a relationship with God.
The idea is Biblical; coming into a relationship with Jesus is easy, but somewhere in the translation, “seeker-sensitive” became “YOKE-FREE”.
Life is hard, life is difficult; life is full of pain and hurt! And to promote it any other way, including having relationship with Jesus is doing great injustice to the lost and the unchurched.
Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me…For my yolk is easy and my burden light” (Matthew 11:29-30).
Simply put, Jesus is saying life is hard but with me it is easier and better, now and for eternity.
Rather than lowing the expectations of pain, hurt, and labor, as teachers and preachers we are to raise up the call to a holy life. I have learned that the awareness of sin in my life is humbling and will drive me more quickly into a relationship with Jesus than any warm and fuzzy message I hear.
As preachers and teachers we are to be diligent, even dogmatic, in calling people into deeper Bible study, prayer, and service.
Just in case today’s thoughts comes across as being “insensitive”, we are to “Do all things in love” (1 Corinthians 16:14).
“As For Me” let’s get them on the meat
Pastor Larry
Life is easier in the thought that we have someone to be there for you, you know you are not alone. You have someone that can see within your soul and can tell of your thoughts being honest and truthful.
In ways when you are a Christian and a new believer things will also become more difficult in some way, such as you have your old friends that may not agree and won’t want to follow what you are. You are held in many ways on a higher level, you have people expect more out of you. WWJD.
For some people they are ready and when they get saved and decide to trust in the lord, this isn’t difficult others though it’s very hard to base this on “faith”.
Life is still as hard, I still cry, I still bleed, I still fall but its knowing that someone is seeing me get back up and reaching a hand out. He is always there to listen and whatever you are going through I’m sure it’s in the bible somewhere on how to handle it.
It’s by no means easier but it’s just not as heavy because you have god/Jesus to guide you. I thank for the people that say why believe in something you cant see – I would rather believe then not believe and risk losing everything.
just a thought! Lots of Love everyone!
Ephesians 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Sounds great…and REAL! Life is GREAT with God…Not easy – GREAT!
Larry,
RIGHT ON! “Water Downed” bible teaching is not good and definitely not realistic and can cause a new Christian to even stumble and give up. God’s word breathes life into all situations and if we dilute His word then we are not being truthful in presenting the gospel.
wow simple and gets the message across
We all pray for peace, joy, and an easy New Year. But spiritual growth doesn’t come in the easy times. It comes during opposition, when we must rely on God for victory in our lives. By praying for an easy New Year are we asking for a stagnant faith? Think about the miracles in the Bible. Each came after a crisis. There could be no provision if there had been no need. We can’t experience Victory without an enemy. God’s Yoke may not always be easier, but it will definitely be worthwhile and fulfilling. Besides…If you cut the crisis out of the Bible you miss Christ. It’s the same in our daily life. As difficult as it is to say…”God grow me closer to you, despite the Crisis, not instead of it.”
Jesus said in Mathew 11:30 “For my yoke is easy and my Burden is light” He never said it was non existent. Although life with Jesus is not a perfect walk, Its through those hard times that you get to see Jesus working in your life! When you come through you are now stronger and even more in Love with Jesus!! It all falls back to the Bible.
Basic
Instructions
Before
Leaving
Earth
All we need to know and learn in walking with Jesus is right there in the best “Love Letter” ever written!!
I love the thought of “seeker sensitive became Yoke free. ” We are to diligently seek a relationship with God. I’m excited about the upcoming series with my church here in Charlotte. We are going to be reading the entire new testament in 30 days. It’s kind of a crash course and a HUGE challenge but the people seem to be intrigued and ready to take up the challenge. You can go to ‘youversion.com’ and look up bible reading plans to find a plan that is right for you.
“Go ye therefore into all the world & make disciples.” Only as we make new believers into disciples are we doing what God commands and only then can they become what God wants them to be.
Also, when you think of Christ’s yoke being easy and his burden light think of the mature, experienced ox being yoked with the young, inexperienced ox. The experienced ox (Christ) is carrying most of the weight so the yoke is easier on the young ox who is in training (the believer) and the burden is not so great as it would be if he or she were not yoked with the mature, experienced ox (Christ) who is teaching him or her.
Life may be equally hard as a believer but we have HOPE and this world is not our home.
remarkable how we, that put our trust and faith in Our Creator Lord God, might easily put out of our conscious mind just how hard and difficult, at times, life can be. We have taken on a new birth and spirit and changed our thinking to be Christlike, so we do need to be able (have the necessary Power to accomplish) to relate to unchurched and unsaved people that we are all to aware of the crisises (and how they may affect people) that is in life before accepting Jesus as Divine Master of our mind, heart and soul.