In our high pressure – heightened stress world, what a wonderful invitation!!!
“Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden (burdened down) … I WILL GIVE YOU REST!” (and the best kind… “SOUL REST”– rest at the deepest level! (Read Matthew 11:28-30)
We can learn to handle stress and pressure from the One who handled it best… Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! What a capable and wonderful mentor!
Oh, may I “come to Him” – “learn from Him” rather than trying to handle stress and pressure my own way!!!
When the Lord uses or blesses someone else more than you, there is always the temptation I refer to as “CREEPING COMPETITIVENESS.”
In Matthew 11:1-6, John the Baptist had heard the reports of all the wonderful things Jesus was doing and the crowds he was attracting. It appears perhaps, that just a “smidgen” of misunderstanding and jealousy crept in (is that possible?)… After all, John had faithfully, as forerunner, announced the coming of “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Now the One he had announced was performing miracles, casting out devils, and cleansing lepers… and he, John, was in prison…figure!!!
The message Jesus sent back to John, is one that rebukes us all when we begin to experience “CREEPING COMPETITIVENESS” with fellow Christian brothers and sisters when God blesses and uses them… “Blessed is the one who is not offended by Me!”
The lesson? BEWARE OF “CREEPING COMPETITIVENESS! (Check out 1 Corinthians 12:26; Romans 12:15)
I was very impressed by the following during my Bible reading today of Genesis 41… The story of Joseph in prison in Egypt, the interpretation of several dreams (including Pharaoh’s), his meteoric (and providential) rise to power to ultimately bring provision to the people of Egypt (and ultimately to the people of Israel) in famine. You really need to read this chapter!!!
Here are the evidences of God’s “Providence”…
1) His concern for the people of Egypt
2) God’s communication through Pharoah with two dreams
3) God’s positioning of a righteous and godly person (Joseph), unjustly accused, in prison who was able to interpret God’s purposes and give wisdom about what to do to face a national crisis
4) God favor upon Joseph that resulted in his incredible rise from prison to palace, and his great significance to a needy nation as it faced a crisis
5) God’s ultimate plan to save His people
And there are probably more sovereign, providential acts of God that could be identified…
My opinion? God is ultimately capable! He knows what He is doing! His purposes are beyond our human understanding! HE CAN BE TRUSTED TO “WORK ALL THINGS TOGETHER FOR GOOD FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM AND ARE THE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE! (Romans 8:28) Ask Joseph!!!
Coffee With The Lord 