Welcome to Sunday' blog! The scripture text for this week is Matthew 11:25-30!
25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
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.”
One of the most comforting phrases for me in this powerful section of scripture is "rest for your soul"! When I think soul I think center - deep center. If I am at rest there then I am ok even if my body is tired - I have a ton to do or my mind is jumping from one thing to another. Soul rest is deep peace for me in the place in my being where it counts the most.
As I was preaching this morning during first service I kept thinking of a family at Point of Grace who suffered the loss of an elderly mother/grandmother this week. It was one of those situations where age and cancer came together for an inevitable end. She is in a better place but it is still a massive loss. The loss is real anddeeply felt even if it came after a long life. What is victoriously wonderful is that this family who is suffering the loss knows Jesus. My hope for them is that their sense of loss only goes so deep and is bounded by the sense of peace and rest that only Jesus can give. My prayer is there soul - their deep center - is filled with the peace and rest of Christ even in this time of loss.
Jesus promises rest for our souls! Even if circumstances, emotions, thoughts, feelings etc. are in turmoil in Jesus we can have hope that soul rest is ours in Jesus. Even when everything else might be falling apart Jesus brings rest for our soul!
How is your deep center doing? What are your thoughts and feelings about the text and message for today? What about "soul rest" - is it possible even in the midst of trouble and chaos? How is this word of God striking your today?
Blessings as this weeks discussion begins!
delton