For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
No matter how dark the night, or how deep our anguish, Jesus Christ is with us. We may be too lost in grief or anger to know it; we may feel too hopeless to believe it; we may not listen to what He tries to tell us. But He is with us all the same.
At some point, the burden we try to carry becomes too heavy. It wears us away and we stumble under the weight of it. Jesus says to us, "Give it to me. Let me help." How strange that we find that so difficult to do! Turn everything over to Jesus? Leave it in His hands? What if He chooses something we don't like? What if He doesn't understand what I want?
Maybe instead we should ask these questions:
1. How well is my way working for me?
2. What am I afraid of?
3. What's really important?
That first question is one Dr. Phil likes to ask, and it's not a comfortable one to answer. That's because usually the answer is, "My way isn't working at all." The burden keeps getting heavier yet we're no closer to the end of bearing it. If our way isn't working, maybe we should try putting Jesus in charge. After all, he did say, "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) So why not? What are we afraid of?
There are any number of answers to that question - only you can say what the answer is for you. But whatever the answer, remember that Jesus said, "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." (John 12:46) To accept Christ as our Savior is to walk in that light. Whether we're concerned about fear of loneliness, or being considered foolish, or loss over control over what we feel is important, Jesus Christ is more than a match for anything we fear.
After all, what is really important? Paul wrote, "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures." (I Corinthinans 15:3-4) Jesus has already paid the price for our sins. If you saw Mel Gibson's film, "The Passion of the Christ," you know what a horrible price that was. But He paid it nonetheless, and willingly. Why? Because of His and His Father's love for us. We hear this In Jesus' prayer to God in the Garden of Gethsemene: "I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” (John 17:20-26)
We can know that love, that comfort. We may still have burdens, but we will no longer be bearing them alone. We may still have fears, but we will have an unconquerable Protector to help us have courage. We will know what is really important, and that will put everything in its proper perspective. If you are ready to make that change, you can do it now, with a simple prayer - something like, "Lord, I need you. I've messed up so many things in so many ways - I don't really understand why you would love me and want to help me after all I've done. But I know you do. I accept you as my Lord and Savior, I want you as my Lord and Savior. Please accept me. Please give me your peace and your salvation." This minute, your life - your self - can change. If you still have questions, come talk with us at Lansing First Southern Baptist Church. Come to our services or call to make an appointment with our pastor.
When a person finds something that really works well, it's natural to want to share it. And we've found something that works wonders. We'd like to share that with you.
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