refreshed

Fresh Manna 2008© by Pastor Tim Burt

Matt 11:28 (Message Bible) “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.”

As a Christian, have you ever lost some of your joy and excitement of being a Christian? How does that happen? Pages and books are written on the subject. What might be the more important questions are these: “Should I allow my Christianity to wane?,” and, “How can I get the joy of being a Christian back?” The first question is a no-brainer. Finding the answer to the second question might be complicated, but let’s try to keep it simple.

Jesus was ministering to those who were watching and listening to John the Baptist – the forerunner of Jesus. Jesus revealed that up to that point and time, John was the greatest man ever born of a woman in the earth. Why? Because he pointed people to the one who would shortly reveal Himself – Jesus. The religious leaders of the day were having a fit about it. They were all about punishing sinners and elevating themselves. John was all about, recognizing we – every one of us has sinned and will sin again and that we needed to repent and receive the Messiah who would shortly come – that our only hope was in Jesus! He was the only one who could and would forgive us and dress us in His robes of righteousness. He was our only chance of Heaven and a better life in this earth.

Thus, Satan worked in and through men to create the tug-of-war of all ages – mean-spirited opposers of this simple gospel of Jesus. They attacked John and anyone who was tempted to believe or share this wonderful truth. The result – religious battles eventually producing weary Christians.

Jesus Himself saw it happening and people being shaken by it. He gave the simple words revealing the simple answer to those who had become affected and who could or would lose their joy of Him. It was an eternal word crying out into our lives today! Today’s Fresh Manna from the Message Bible speaks it beautifully saying, “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. Matt 11:28-

The answer was and always will be simple. Lift up Jesus! Lift Him up in your own heart. Remember what He did for you. Remember all that He has done in you. Remember all that He declares that He wants to do in and for you! It is a gift of His grace and in this grace – He is always reaching out to you with more of His love! Worship Him for it! Read about it. Share it with others. Share this simple but eternal life-changing and life-impacting gift with those around you. Not as duty, but as a conversation of the greatest event and greatest love you’ve ever experienced. Just lift up Jesus. Do you know what will happen when you do? Jesus told us in John 12:32“And when I am lifted up on the cross, I will draw everyone to Myself.”

When you lift up Jesus out of pure love spilling from your life and testimony, people are drawn to Jesus. It will happen through you. Their discovery and excitement will only refuel your own. Then the insignificant elements of our life that try to rob our joy fade, and the joy of Jesus lifts our heart. This is the life of joy in Jesus we long for. Not focused out of discipline, but out a pure love – of never forgetting the one who saved you and sharing that love with the world surrounding your life. It’s not something to be forced. His grace is there to make it he most natural thing in the world – a rhythm of His grace. What is your testimony? Do you have your coffee break version? Are you reading your Bible so someone can ask you why you are? Are you thinking today about His love that invaded and changed your life forever? Be thankful then and just let it spill from you!

In His Love,
Pastor Tim Burt
http://readfreshmanna.blogspot.com/