“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.” Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)
Religion is a cruel taskmaster and leaves a person tired, worn out and burned out. Ask me how I know.
We are supposed to do good works, but good works cannot save us. Following rules for the sake of following rules is not fruitful. We obey Jesus because we love Jesus, not to earn His blessings. We cannot be good enough to earn a single thing. On the other hand, we cannot be bad enough to lose the love of God.
It boils down to religion versus relationship. Religion sucks the life out of us. Relationship pours life into us.
I like how the Amplified version says it:
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation].”
“Religious rituals provide no peace.” Amen to that.
Jesus always went against the grain of religion. The religious leaders reprimanded Him many times for His seeming disregard for rules and regulations.
“In the past, God gave us grace through the law of Moses. Now, grace and truth come to us through Jesus Christ.” John 1:17 (NIRV)
Jesus tells the tired, the worn out, and the burned out what to do.
He says,
“Come to me.”
“Get away with me.”
“Walk with me.”
“Work with me.”
“Watch how I do it.”
“Keep company with me.”
This is not a difficult list of things to do. We simply spend time with Him, so we get to know Him and His ways.
When we do this, Jesus says:
“You’ll recover your life.”
“You’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Sounds like a plan to me.
As Christians, we can live in peace and joy, no matter what happens in this world. Our way of life should be in great contrast to those who do not know Jesus. We have a Father Who takes care of us, a Savior Who has provided everything for us, and the Holy Spirit Who lives inside of us.
We don’t live an average, sub-standard life, just getting by. We live a higher kind of life.
We are dancing to the beat of a different drum.