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“You will never be on top of the world if you try to carry it on your shoulders.”
~ Unknown
With so many things to do, the Eagle Leader often feels like they are about to break under the load. You know it is impossible to “mount up with wings like eagles” (Isaiah 40:31) when you are weighed down with cares and concerns.
Jesus understands your burden and wants to lift it from your shoulders. This will involve changing the way we look at our situation and giving Him control of certain things. All too often, burdens come from usurping the responsibilities that belong to Jesus. A classic example of this comes from our passage today …
Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.” At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:20-30 (NKJV)
We become like Jesus when …
o We learn how to come to Jesus and leave the consequences of the indifferent to him.
We all struggle with it … what to do with those who seem to have cotton in their ears and granite for a heart! We talk and encourage, plead and lead and still many of the people we work with don’t do anything with God’s Word. Their direction remains world-centered and their passion for spiritual things is as cold as a Midwestern ‘Arctic Clipper.’
Jesus makes a powerful diagnostic statement just before our passage today: “But wisdom is justified by all her children.” Luke 7:35, the parallel passage, catches the flavor of Jesus meaning best. What people do IS what people are! Some will change and some will not. While this can break our hearts, we need to remember that Jesus is the final judge of humanity. Rebuking the cold-hearted incalcitrance of Chorazin and Bethsaida, he pronounces a certain doom to them. I have been in what remains of Chorazin – ruins are all that is left.
The moral of today’s training is this: you are not responsible for the results of the message of God’s love and goodness. You are responsible for the clear and compassionate declaration of that message. When people do not respond, leave the consequences to Jesus. Then go to Him so he can heal your heart and lift your hurt from the certain result of such apathetic rejection!
© 2009 By Dr. Matthew Lee Smith
