"A Tender Message of Grace"

Every so often I like to explore other translations and paraphrases of the Scripture in my daily readings. I found one today that caught me by surprise:

Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. "The Father has given me all these things to do and say. This is a unique Father-Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge. No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does. But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen. 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 11:27-30 The Message).

It is a very familiar and often quoted passage of Scripture; however, I doubt you’ve heard this version quoted very often. I know I haven’t. It speaks of Jesus’ tender message of grace. Isn’t it interesting how Jesus always knew how to locate people? These words spoken thousands of years ago still transcend all time and still apply to us today. It's amazing that over all these centuries, humans repeatedly struggle with the same issues. It seems our trials simply cycle and come back around during every generation. People get tired, worn out, and in some cases, burned out. He knew that and He knew the answer to our weariness.

The key is in what Jesus brought to us. Jesus brings relationship, not religion. The differences between the two are interesting. Religion is a belief system or conviction that one follows and adheres to; while relationship is a connection or bond between two parties. A person can have a conviction they follow based on their relationship with another. But in our own strength, it's difficult to live out a belief system when there's no relationship to encourage us. So, Jesus says, “Come to me.” He wants us to enter into a relationship with Him that transcends the man-made or self-imposed rules of religion. After all, it's the duties of religion in the absence of grace that wear people out.

He then invites us to “take His yoke.” The Message says, “Walk with me and work with me.” Jesus is not advocating the absence of religion, He is defining real religion. When we feel worn out or on the verge of burn out, it's a sure indicator we have either been doing things in our own strength or trying to carry out an assignment God didn't give us. So check yourself: Are you weary and heavy laden? If the answer is “yes,” then walk with Jesus and work with Him. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. That’s how you can learn to live freely and lightly!

Read the passage again… this time slowly! Aren’t you ready to get away with Him? You can right now in prayer!