Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also:
Galatians 2:1[1]
Whatever it is, it’s never fast enough. Whether it’s the checkout line at the grocery store, filling out your Chick-fil-A mobile app order, or waiting in line at the drive-through window, it’s always too slow.
There’s always a better, faster, newer way. Now that we’re moving our cell phones from 4G to 5G, it’s only a matter of time till 6G comes along. We’re all Tom Cruise in Top Gun. We all have “the need for speed[2].”
That’s why almost 70% of millennials experience what’s called FOMO, or the Fear Of Missing Out. Their anxiety is raised by the worry that someone else has faster speeds, newer technology, is have a better time.
Some people think that this desire, always wanting something more, is part of being human. That we were made to never feel fulfilled. Not having every desire and wish met is what’s normal. One writer put it this way.
There will never be an end to the to-do list, future goals and plans, the things we want to achieve and see. But the fact that we don’t have everything we want is exactly what makes life so fulfilling[3].
But God didn’t make us for fear. How do I know? Because the idea of fear doesn’t come up until after Adam and Eve rebelled against God[4]. Before sin, there was no fear. But once sin came into the world, it dragged fear right along with it.
God’s plan has always been to restore us back to the way life was originally meant to be. Living with God and one another without any fear. No secrets, sin, or shame to hide. Being able to rest in our totally transparent and intimate relationship with God and each other.
Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
Psalm 62:5,6
Paul had changed from a totally impatient guy[5] to someone who was willing to wait. He waited. And he waited. Boy did he wait. He was willing to wait 14 years before going a second time to Jerusalem. Imagine that, being willing to wait. Able to wait your turn without blowing a gasket. Choosing to wait so that someone else can go ahead of you. Not loosing your mind when the computer being used by the person trying to help you locks up. And then it takes an additional eight minutes to reboot, log back in, get their supervisor to unlock the program, and re-enter your information.
While the people listening to Jesus never experienced our kind of frustrations, they had their own fears and worries. They were living in a land controlled by a cruel foreign power. Rome didn’t care about human rights at all. If they happened to hurt or kill anyone, that was just too bad.
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.
Matthew 11:29
These famous and familiar words of Jesus are a great promise. But because we’ve heard them so many times, maybe we’re not ready to listen carefully to them. We love the gentle and humble in heart part. And we really get into the finding rest for your souls promise.
But there is something that we have to do before we can receive and enjoy these promises of Jesus. We have to take his yoke and put it on. His yoke is to make him the Lord and loving heavenly Father of our life. We give him control of everything. Period. We volunteer to let God call the shots even if it hurts. Even if it disappoints.
Jesus doesn’t threaten us. He doesn’t force his yoke on us. He doesn’t even put it on us. Our parents don’t put it on us. Our pastor doesn’t put it on us. We put it on ourselves. We lift his yoke up and over our heads. We lower it onto our shoulders. And then the tough part; we strap it on so that it doesn’t slip or fall off.
Once his yoke in in place comes the daily living and walking with him. He controls when, where, and how he guides. He gently pulls on the reins, directing us to the right or left. He tells us when to start and stop. He takes full responsibility for both the guiding and the timing. That’s why Paul could wait 14 years. Can we wait 14 minutes with and for Jesus?
Noodling Questions
Why are we willing to wait for some things and not others?
What gives us the strength and patience to wait?
How do we put on the “yoke” of Jesus?
[1] Unless otherwise noted, all Bible references are from the New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. [2] https://youtu.be/1GOTe6ecXus [3] QZ.com, Olivia Goldhill, May 15, 2016 [4] Genesis 3:10 [5] Acts 9:1,2
Commenti