Who would have thought?

                I was genuinely surprised Wednesday morning (like this little one to the right) with the election outcome. I was really surprised. I had drunk the media cool-aid and so I was surprised. I was not the only one, duh! Again I have been surprised by the gloating on the part of some and the despair on the part of others. It is confusing to me unless you consider some think this reality is all there is, then their response makes sense.

                Equally confusing and more disappointing is the response of some Christians to the political outcome and others sounding like Chicken Little “the sky is falling.” Really? I thought we got that figured out when we read Revelation 21-22? Seems we should have understood at our salvation eternity awaits us? But by our words and worry, I guess not. So what about our situation? Jesus has some words for both “sides.”

^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.”   Matthew 11:28-30 The Message (MSG)

                We could replace “religion” with “politics” following this campaign. But the invitation is still the same. Jesus invites us to himself. Not his surrogate, study plan, sermon series no himself. He is the key. “Learn the unforced rhythms of grace,” that phrase convicts me every time (including today) when I get stressed, worried, overwhelmed, well you know.

                We never see Jesus in a hurry in the New Testament. We never see him worried or fearful. No, he has a confidence not cockiness but a certainty in His Father and His plan for Jesus’ life. He follows his Father’s lead for life and living and is comfortable and committed to it. That path is not usually a straight line to a destination but rather a straight line to a destiny for a life lost in the world. Consider the woman at the well in Samaria, NOT on the way to Jerusalem.

                Another aspect of the unforced rhythm of grace is a willingness to let life come to you. There is a saying in sports when a player is trying to force shots to make something happen. They need to let the game come to them. NASCAR drivers face the same with car setups and conditions to be ready when the race comes to them. You and I must count on the promise of God for our good welfare and allow life and it’s circumstances to come to us. We need to be ready “in season and out” to run with the ball God hands to us. But we have to wait for it to come to us and not help Him out. That is unforced grace! It is the life Jesus lived and will live in us as we trust Him in us! 

                                                                                                                                               In HIS Service and Yours.

BroG