Are You Ready to Lay Your Burden Down?

“What burden are you carrying? I tell you with confidence, there is one person waiting who is willing to help you lay it down.”

There are millions of people carrying such heavy burdens all across our world. They cannot sleep at night and wake up tired. They have regular appointments with their counselors. Hobbies and exercise are strategies to find relief. Drugs and alcohol are an escape. Screen time with social media is a diversion from the pressure. What burden are you carrying and for how long? Can I tell you that there is someone who is willing to help you with your burden? I know you have heard of Him – Jesus. (Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay)

Once He was invited to dinner at a religious leader’s home where other guests also came. Together they sat down to eat and began visiting. At the time, Jesus’ fame as a preacher had spread, and so word circulated quickly where He was. A certain prostitute who had heard of Jesus, learned of His whereabouts. She made her way to the house, managed to get inside and found herself standing before Jesus and the other guests. She stood without saying a word and then began weeping. So much, that her tears fell on Jesus’ feet. Seeing that, she bent down and began to wipe the tears off with her hair.

During the whole process, the religious leaders were incensed at the woman and Jesus. Noticing this, Jesus spoke to the dinner host, addressing his attitude toward her, then turned back to the woman and said, “Your sins are forgiven.” (Luke 7:48) That angered the leaders even more. Then He spoke one final word before she humbly slipped out, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” (Luke 7:50)

The prostitute was looking for something, just like all the guests in the room were. But when she heard of Jesus, something awakened inside her that no doubt said, “This is it!” And she overcame the barriers before her to get to Jesus, and when she came to Him, He did not disappoint.

She found forgiveness for all the wrongs she had done. The guilt and shame she had been trying to outrun was finally washed away.

And how did that happen? Faith.

It is interesting to note, what Jesus did not say. He did not refer to anything about religion, morality, goodness or education. Just faith. He did not mention personal will-power, having a positive attitude, perseverance or working hard. Just faith. And what is faith? It was the woman’s complete and total trust in Jesus, which she demonstrated through her coming to Him. She did not care what others thought or how difficult it might be. She was willing to make a fool of herself to get to Jesus. Whatever it took. With the deepest conviction she knew He could give her what she was searching for, yet she received something so much greater.

We are all naturally wired to be independent. We see this when we need something, for we will figure out a way to get it. It might come through hard work and determination, or through more nefarious means like stealing, manipulation or deceit. Either way, by ethical or unethical channels, we will get it.

Faith in Jesus is opposite. The woman did not trust in herself or others, but demonstrated a desperate and determined faith in Christ, and consequently, her life was instantly transformed. She came believing that her life of prostitution was wrong. She was willing to leave it behind and came to Christ in humbleness, seeking His mercy, for she knew He could save her. She was confident Jesus was sufficient for all she needed.

Follow this woman’s example. In resolute and unwavering faith, lay your burden down at Jesus’ feet and receive His forgiveness and peace.

A prayer for you - Lord God, I pray you will help people to come to you and lay their burdens down. May they stop trying to carry it themselves, doing it their way. Let them realize you are sufficient for all their needs. Help them to stop trying, and start trusting, trusting fully in you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

How To Become Rich

“Jesus died and rose again 

to make you rich.”

In 1848 a young struggling family of four immigrated from Scotland to the United States. Andy, who was 13 years old, jumped right in to help his financially strapped family. His parents let him get a job at a cotton mill for $1.20 a week, which is equivalent to $48 a week in today’s numbers. Andy worked hard and eventually moved onto a local telegraph company, and then to the railroad. He excelled there and was promoted to supervisor by the time he was 24. One day an opportunity came to financially invest in the railroad, which proved to be profitable and launched him into the world of investing and business. One of those businesses was steel, and in 1873, while not yet 40 years old, he organized a new company, which soon became the largest steel company in the world. Then in 1901 Andrew Carnegie sold his business, which made him the world’s richest man. (Image from Pixabay)

Can a poor man become rich? You bet! Mr. Carnegie is an example of that, but what kind of wealth am I really talking about?

Jesus once told a story about two polar opposite men. “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.’” (Luke 16:9-25)

The story is meant to illustrate spiritual and moral truths. Jesus is not communicating how all wealthy people are oppressors, and how all poor are the oppressed, nor is He promoting the division of society into economic classes. Rather, one of the truths Jesus is teaching is how the rich man is a picture of mankind without God.

The rich man was only focused on his life, giving no thought about God or life beyond the grave. He was selfish, giving no consideration to the needs of the poor man. He was also prideful, exalting himself over the destitute man. Are you like the rich man, only living for this life, selfish and prideful? When one lives without God, these are the attitudes of his life. What happened when the rich man died? He instantly found himself in hell. When a person dies without God, they are separated from Him and all His goodness forever. While the rich man lived, he had all this world could offer him, but upon death, he was condemned to eternal poverty.

How can one truly become rich; that is rich in the things of eternal value? Simple. Have the spirit of the poor man, for he exhibited an attitude of humility and dependency upon God for all his needs. Then upon his death, he entered into the riches and glory of heaven for all eternity.

Jesus died and rose again to make you rich. For when you turn from your sinful ways and place your faith in Christ, then you will possess Him. And when His Spirit is in you, you become one of the wealthiest people on earth. For to possess Jesus, is to possess all the treasures of heaven.

A prayer for you – Lord God, I pray that people will examine their hearts to see if they have the heart of the rich man. Then bring each one to turn from their selfish and prideful ways, and turn to Jesus. And fill them with the Spirit of Christ, that they may become eternally rich in the things of God. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

New Year’s Possibilities

"The new year is an opportunity for

a new start."

The new year is an opportunity for a new start. I once heard about a man that regularly took a block of time in December to engage in planning and goal setting for the next year for his organization. The way our annual calendar is set up, it provides a vision for that. It is the end of the old and the beginning of the new. Not only do we see this concept in view of time, but in nature too. In our part of the globe, we are blessed to have four seasons. When fall and winter come, it is the end of the old. But when spring and summer come, it is the beginning of the new. We see this concept in life itself. In a family, when a grandparent has passed away there is sorrow in saying goodbye, but then later there is joy in welcoming a new little infant to the family. And we also see this in spiritual terms. For people outside of Jesus there is spiritual death and darkness, but once they are in Jesus, there is spiritual life and light. One writer from the Bible put it this way, “…if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God…” (2 Corinthians 5:17-18) (Image from freepik.com)

You may not realize it, but if you are outside of Jesus, you are living in the old. All that is in you is death and darkness. Though that sounds grim, it is true. And that may explain some things happening in your life and family right now. They are the consequences or by-products of it. We may try to “Instagram” our life to others, but we cannot escape the reality of our condition. No amount of busyness, noise, praise by others or positive self-talk can hide the truth. This is the old.

Jesus declared He is life and light. He is the one who can make all things new. He conquered death and darkness through His own death and rising again. For all who come to Him, He is willing to make new. But to receive the promise of being made new, there is a great cost. To receive what Jesus died to give you will cost your very life. What does that mean? It means you are no longer willing to put your desires, wants and needs above, beside or to the exclusion of God. It means that you deliberately choose to follow Jesus as your own Lord, King, Master and Ruler.

It is a new year, and the possibility of a new life is waiting for you. The empty blood-stained cross of Jesus is what it took to bring you the chance for a new start. Commit all to Jesus as the first step toward transformation.

A prayer for you - Lord God, I pray you will make many new creations today. May people receive by faith the promise of newness you rose again to give them. I pray they would turn from their ways and give all they are to you. There is no cost too great, compared to what you did on the cross for us. May they see that and humble themselves before you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.