“Learn the unforced rhythms of grace”

From “The Message” Bible, Matthew 11: 28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me (Jesus). 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. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep Company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
I think this is what is meant by “Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.” (I can’t get that line out of my head)! When I learn something, it becomes a part of me. I have a personal, intimate knowledge of it. It is “first hand” knowledge, not something someone told me and then was forgotten. It is now, part of my experience. It was willingly learned. It was not forced upon me. I was ready to receive it.
Rhythm is something we follow in our daily lives. We wake up, and get our day started. Our day is filled with activities, work, kids, and errands. Then it’s time for supper and evening activities. Wash the dishes, wash the kids, wash the clothes, feed the pets, go to bed and do it again tomorrow.
Rhythms are a steady beat, the ebb and flow of nature. It is the learning of new ways of thinking and getting rid of the old thoughts. It is the consistency in our life that helps us stay focused. When we hit a speed bump, rhythm is what brings us back on course.
Grace has been used as an acronym for “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.” In American Sign Language it translates as, “Taking the Light and putting it in your heart”. It is something we are given but can’t earn and that is something that bothers us. We feel that we must earn everything we are given and we miss the point entirely! It is a GIFT, not a wage to be earned. We are taught to work for what we want but a gift is something free. We don’t have to do anything for it but to accept it.
What if I told you I put some money under two of the chairs here, how many would actually look for it? Or would you tell yourself, “She’s just using that as an example”. How about if I said, “Here is $50.00. The first one to come and take it gets to keep it.” Who would be the first one here? Or would you sit there in your seat worried about what others would think if you did get up and take it?
You see the thing about a gift is, there’s always a catch. You have to do something to get it. You simply have to take it. You don’t have to sneak a peek to see who is watching and you don’t have to be embarrassed about looking for it. Go boldly and get it! Never worry how others may think of you for coming forward to collect your gift. The fact is, most people are so worried about what others may think of what they do, that they miss out on all the gifts that God has made available to them!
The flip side is if you don’t accept it, you’ll never know how great a Gift it could have been or what the Gift could have meant to you. That’s the whole point!
Jesus said, “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. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep Company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Did you hear that? The offer is “Get away with me” and the Gift is “You’ll recover your life!”
The offer is “Keep company with me” and the Gift is “you’ll learn to live freely and lightly”
The offer is “Come to Me” and the Gift is “I’ll show you how to take a real rest”.
The offer is “Learn the unforced rhythms of grace” and the Gift is “I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you”.
Don’t be afraid or hesitant or doubt that you can’t accept these gifts. Those are lies straight from Satan! Go boldly to the Throne of God and claim your Gifts today, right now! Do you understand what I’m sharing with you? Then what’s holding you back? Go! Ask! Receive!