Proverbs 11:14
Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
Do you have a few wise people you can trust in your life whom you interact with on a daily or weekly basis?
We are foolish and are bound to do something really dumb if we do not. Having a few wise, God following people in my life who I can bounce stuff off of and get a different perspective from has been extremely important in my spiritual growth. We are not meant to go at it alone, even with God. I believe He has set it up for us to be with others who listen to Him since we are all different parts of the same body. How can I have perspective outside my sphere of experience and knowledge?
I know from groups that if just one person is missing, the whole dynamic changes. We need each other and our perspectives.
Listen to the person who listens to God, and your life will be greatly enriched.
Matthew 11:19
Wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.
Matthew 11:28-30
“My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
My soul does not find rest until it rests in You.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the easy yoke and light burden of Jesus. He has been speaking to me about this the last couple of weeks. I’ve come to realize that the ministry I’ve been called to is simply creating a space for those who are hungry for God. That is bearing fruit. It is not the results I can get, or the conversions I tally up. Bearing fruit is giving truth and doing good for others and resting in the heart work that can only be done by the Holy Spirit.
A good tree bears good fruit, but it does not throw the fruit in people’s mouths and force-feed them. The good tree bears fruit and rests in the fact that it is rooted in good soil and receives a sufficient supply of water.
More and more I am resting in simply supplying fruit to those who are provided to me daily, to those who are hungry and will take it and eat it. If they’re not hungry, not willing to take and eat [to taste and see] what more can I do, really?
What I can do is stay rooted, stay watered, and model what a healthy tree can be which YHWH will hopefully use to inspire and soften hearts.
This is a light burden indeed!
P.S. It’s almost impossible not to share The Message version of this passage whenever speaking of it because of its beauty:
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? 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.”