Matthew 11: 28-30 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
I begin reading today in my Bible Gateway reading plan. Wow. These verses are waiting for me in the very first set of texts. The Father is so present in my life. "Come to me" is the great work of the Kingdom. I read in some of my old journals today, and I was tempted to be discouraged at how for so long God has been calling, beckoning, and ordering me to "come". Instead I have been afraid the coming wouldn't be enough effort to secure the goodies of the Kingdom, the character I desired. In my truly honest moments, I have to admit I wanted the character of the Kingdom to attain the love and approval I longed for in those around me. Was it always about loving the Father? No. I succumbed to the lure of religion, the yeast of the Pharisee.
The Old Testament portion today was the story of Joseph's time in Potiphar's house and subsequent imprisonment. Joseph did everything right. He was loyal to his master refusing repeatedly to sleep with his master's wife. In the end, his loyalty went unrecognized by an angry master who threw him in prison. In prison, he interprets the dream of a cup bearer who forgets him for years. I would think Joseph would be very tempted to give up on "doing the right thing." Who cares? No one cares.
Unless...unless it wasn't doing the right thing; it was being the right thing. Perhaps the pain of the rejection he'd experienced from his own family led him into the lap of the Father. He says, " ...How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9) His motivation is relational. Though the Lord did give him favor in Potiphar's house and prison, his good deeds had no immediate pay off. The favor seems to be a gift. He immediately gives God the "credit" for interpreting dreams. The fact that the cup bearer and baker come to him suggest he's known in the prison for this sort of activity. I'm sure his ability to interpret dreams comes out of a lifestyle of listening. Joseph's life suggests a presence with the Father and a confidence that transcends his circumstances. I find myself taking a closer look at Joseph's remarkable life, a life of achievement without striving and plotting. His life comes out of his "chosen-ness" and out of presence with God.
Jesus is teaching about the Kingdom of God and about those who are missing the Kingdom. They are unimpressed by the tremendous grace of the miracles Jesus is performing. Religious leaders are offended that the kingdom comes for the undeserving, the very worst sinners of society. Our striving, our excellence, and our character don't carry much weight here. Instead Jesus uses words such as rest, easy, light, gentle and humble. What if coming to him is all I need to do? What if listening to his voice is all I need to hear? What if this life I'm living right now with no titles, no agenda is enough? What if it's about pursuing life with Him instead of achievements for Him? What will happen if I just live in his presence? I can't wait to find out.
