June 2011

Special Treat

This month we have a special treat as Richard Brest, retired pastor and Haven of Hope board member, has submitted the newsletter article for this month. I know you will enjoy it.

Matthew 11:28-30

In Rome at the time of Jesus walking the earth... Religion and government were close to one and the same... with Caesar thinking of himself as a god... to say "Jesus is Lord" instead of "Caesar is Lord" was considered blasphemy and you could be put to death for it.

Remember Jesus said, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's!" Jesus, by saying this, was declaring that Caesar was NOT God!

Many religious leaders of Jesus' day were placing impossible demands (taxes, guilt and man-made dogma) on people, in order to lord their power over them.

In endeavoring to help a family whose young son had died, I was reviewing the words of Jesus in Matthew 11 verses 28 to 30. This family was tired, worn out and burned out with so many trying to tell them how to fix their situation. They erroneously felt they may have been able to prevent their son's death, if they had just done more religious things. These were very sincere, open and loving people. They were heartbroken and searching.

The words of Jesus in this chapter seemed to jump off the page with compassion to these young parents. It spoke of an ill fitting yoke. A yoke is a wooden beam which is used between a pair of oxen to allow them to pull a load (oxen almost always work in pairs). It was used to help plow fields like a tractor or 18 wheeler is today.

Jesus used this picture of plowing and pulling heavy loads to point out how He so wants to help us over the road of life.

Jesus in essence says to his followers, "I don't have a one size fits all yoke. You don't have to uncomfortably try to plow your way through life by struggling and straining. My yoke is custom made for you and I am in that yoke with you! I care so much about you and after all I am God and I CAN help you find rest!" I believe Jesus is not talking about rest from action, but rest from worry and anxiety.

These words are so amazing:
Jesus says, "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life! Walk with me and work with me. I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Keep company with me (I am in the yoke with you) and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
(The Message and The N.I.V.)

Blessing on you as you learn from Jesus!

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Do be in prayer as we are wanting to give more time to this ministry. Please pray for the finance to help make this happen.

Thank you. Pastor Rick, Pastor of a church without walls.