by Bruce Hanson
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
I am a member of a group I wish I wasn’t qualified to be a part of, The OGC (Old Guys Club). That isn’t our official name but an appropriate one for the geezers like me who attend the Men’s Bible Study on Wednesday at church (ages 60-90+). When you are younger, one often pines for a vacation, an opportunity to rest and recharge. But when you are old like me, you have way more down time than is desirable — way too much!! Nonetheless, having extra time doesn’t equate with rest — much needed rest.
When I was a brand new Christian — half a century ago – I read a book by Watchman Nee called Sit, Walk, Stand. “Sit” is the place we start as Christians. Sitting means trusting. It mightily impacted me ever since. In the passage above, Jesus offers us a rest that we all are desperate for. Trouble is, I think most of us only almost sit down. We are close, perched two inches above the seat. But the chair doesn’t actually work unless we allow it to support our weight. Not only that, but it wreaks havoc on our backs to almost sit. Ouch!!
As an oldie, I am unfortunately all too aware of how many times I have ALMOST trusted God. I thought and said the right things. But I didn’t TRULY trust Him. I hadn’t rested in Him. I meant to, but I always stopped short — too many ‘Buts’ and ‘What Ifs’.
It makes me think fondly of my departed mother. She worked hard all week, so she was more than deserving of a day of rest. But come Sunday, she just couldn’t sit down — maybe for thirty seconds, but then she was right back up. If you look at the wonderful offer God makes above, there is no asterisk. There isn’t anything we must do to validate the offer. No resumé is required. — Just This!!
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;
and lean not unto thine own understanding.In all thy ways acknowledge him,
and he shall direct thy path. Proverbs 3:5-6
Take a Seat. God has the best cushions!!
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