Be perfect or relax! – Monday, 04 December

Jesus invites all who are weary and heavy burdened to come to Him and find rest. God’s will for us is that we live in rest and peace, not conflict and stress. He doesn’t force rest upon us but offers us an invitation to it.

In context, Jesus is speaking to those who are tired, burdened and burnt out from living under the law (man’s efforts to be right with God through performance, not faith). He’s saying that living by the law is a heavy burden which will only make us weary and stressed out. Trying to relate to God based on your performance will only ever result in stress.

I like what Jesus says: come to Me… take My yoke upon you. He’ll never force Himself on you – we are invited to come to Him, and then we are invited to take His yoke upon us. The law forces and is burdensome. Jesus invites and is undemanding. The law is difficult but Jesus’ yoke is easy and His burden is light. It’s easier to come to Jesus than to live under the law.

“For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
John 1:17 KJV

There is no grace in the law – no room for error or the slightest imperfection. Having to be perfect will certainly stress you out! You have the choice of living under Moses (which is stressful) or living under Jesus (which is stress-free). You either have to be perfect (under the law) or you can relax and rest in His grace!

You cannot effectively relate to God through the law (what you do for God); you can only know God and enjoy a relationship with Him by faith (believing) in His grace (unmerited, unearned, undeserved favour).