Wednesday, October 2, 2013

"Easy Yoke, Light Burden"

 Part 3

 Born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are servants of a Servant.

  "My Father is greater than I... the head of Christ is God" (John 14:28; I Corinthians 11:3).

   Equal in Divine substance, being, and personhood with His Father, the Lord Jesus nevertheless defers in rank and authority.  A hierarchy exists within the Trinity, establishing the basis for structures of authority as they exist in our lives.  God created us in His image, and thus we should expect that His way will be our way.  It is - "Walk, even as He walked" (I John 2:6).

   Servanthood and servitude is rest.  When we kneel before God and others in attitude, action, word, and relationship, we experience the spiritual atmosphere that graces the heart of the Prince of peace.  Recall his recline upon a pillow as a stormy sea of Galilee threatened to capsize the ship in which He and His disciples sailed (Mark 4:35-41).  Strong, rugged, experienced fishermen quaked and feared for their lives.  The Prince slept in the peace of faith and submission to His Father's will.  Moreover, in the power of such tranquility and trust, the Lord Jesus arose from rest with authority over the tempest.  "Even the winds and the sea obey Him!" (Matthew 8:27).  A peaceful Heart brought stillness to a roiling creation by the exercise of an authority based upon the restful calm of submission and humility.

  Submission and obedience to God greatly de-complicates our lives.   This begins in our hearts, where the acknowledgement and application of the Lord Jesus’ “Not My will, but Thine be done” blesses our hearts with His peace (Luke 22:42).  Indeed, the Prince of peace offers to us His yoke of submission to His Father, and devotion to the needs of others.  With such meekness and lowliness comes peace and the accompanying fulfillment of our Lord’s promise, “Ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:29).

“O that thou hadst hearkened to My commandments!  Then had Thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea.”
(Isaiah 48:18)

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