Unforced Rhythms of Grace
In my last article, we had a wonderful time refreshing ourselves in Jesus. In this article, we are going to continue our “vacation” from a different vantage point.
A Permanent Vacation
God has called you to a permanent vacation! By your union with Christ, you have entered an eternal sabbath rest in Him (Hebrews 4:9-10, Luke 6:5). What a concept!
Detoxing from Religion
Jesus asked in Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG):
28-30 “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.”
Ahhhhh (sigh of relief)!
There is nothing so exhausting, wearing, and ultimately lethal, as the burden of religion – the impure and defiled version!
I cannot take credit for this, but I recently heard from multiple sources the etymology (where a word comes from and how it evolves) of the word, “religion”. Check this out!
The Latin for religion is perhaps from religare– to restrain or tie back.
“Re” means to return back to.
“Ligare” – means to tie back.
This struck me, because as a physician, who moonlighted a LOT in the Emergency Room, I would do a lot of suturing. I would “ligate” or tie off a wound to stop hemorrhaging (bleeding).
Religion from this perspective is to “return” to being “tied back”. The religion of the Law of Moses brought bondage and death and is the opposite of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. Jesus brings freedom! (Romans 8:2)
Religion will wear you out – can I get a witness?!
Get Your Life Back
Jesus’s prescription: “Come to Me and get away with Me (Matthew 11:28)”. He is your one-step life recovery program!
With Jesus, you get to walk with Him, work with Him and watch how He does things. He’s right where you need Him (Matthew 11:29)!
He admonishes you to “Learn the unforced rhythms of grace (Matthew 11:29)”.
If He admonishes, which means to encourage or earnestly advise, that means you CAN do it, with His help!
He is so lovely; He lifts the heavy loads.
He makes sure that what He places on you is light. His assignments fit you and He makes you fit for the assignment.
Living in Freedom
Keeping company with Him (Matthew 11:30) is the same as abiding with Him or remaining with Him. This is where we can rest, but still bear much fruit – excellent fruit (John 15: 4-11).
Here is where we learn to live freely and lightly!
And guess Who is your Teacher and Helper? Holy Spirit Himself!
Do you think Holy Spirit does a good job at teaching you and helping you learn?
You see, the more you look to Him and His mastery, the less you are concerned with your denseness and limitations!
It took years of deliverance from striving and receiving a new default of rest. You can get there as well!
If you need more help with this, let me recommend my book, “Marked by Love”. The whole book will help you, but a chapter called ‘Freaky Rest’ has been noted to be extremely helpful to many.
I trust this has been a huge blessing – God is sooooo amazing!
Much Love (in rest),
Catherine
