The More I Learn About Grace

The more I learn about grace, the more I understand why the Pharisees and religious leaders were freaking out. Jesus ushered in a whole new way of life for them. They didn't really know what was going on. And He was not giving them the law. He repeatedly told people, "Your sins are forgiven." Or He would say, "Your faith has saved you." This was not how they had been living. They were completely steeped in religious thinking and doing and being right. That's what stumped them about Jesus. He was not. He was full of mercy and that is why all the people flocked to Him. The way of the religious leaders was heavy. Jesus was freeing them, and he was light

Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear. -Matthew 11:28-30 (The Passion Translation)

His Yoke is Easy

"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

Words that jump out about me from this passage in Matthew are weary, burdened, rest, gentle, humble, rest, easy, and light. The hard words are the ones that describe us, and the soft words are the ones that describe Jesus. He wants to make a shift in our lives and our thinking from a place of being overwhelmed and incapable to a place of peace and reliance on Him to give us relief in our situations.