“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Jesus Christ ~ Matthew 11:28
You’ve probably heard it said that knowledge is power. Most of those I hear speak these words seem to mean that by increasing their knowledge, they increase their power—whether that power is vibrational, intellectual, or martial. However, knowledge is a two-edged sword. It is as apt to cut the one wielding it as readily as their foe.
Consider the words of James. “Therefore, to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” Knowing the good and right thing to do in any given situation lays upon the possessor of such knowledge the obligation to act upon it. That is an extremely difficult task. It wore Elijah down until he asked God to just let him die. Paul urged Christians in Thessalonica, “be not weary in well doing”.
God’s people labored under the Law of Moses to keep themselves spiritually, morally, and ethically clean. So wearisome was their labor, Paul called the Law a taskmaster—imagery linked to their bondage in Egypt. Failure to keep the Law in every jot and tittle produced an enormous load of guilt.
A singular truth about people is that, in most situations, we know the morally right thing to do—and we don’t always do it. Except for the pathologically ill among us, that produces guilt. Granted some feel it more keenly than others. Some confess that they are able to ignore it. I’m skeptical about that, but I’ll take their word for it.
To those whose behavior has never produced a hint of guilt, to those able to ignore feelings of guilt, and to those who find personal guilt a social/psychological construct of a less enlightened age, Jesus has nothing to say. Keep on growing in knowledge and power.
To those whose knowledge tells them that they are less holy than God, to those who have failed to be perfect in their thoughts, words, and actions, and to those laboring under the burden of that failure, Jesus says, “Come unto me”.
Jesus offers grace when our conscience condemns us and forgiveness when our conscience is correct in its estimation. His grace frees us from working for salvation. This is not to say good works cease—only that they are no longer the way to God—they are the result of God in us. Forgiveness rolls away the burden of guilt that would crush us. We are too weak to bear it. Jesus lifts it from our backs and gives us rest.
“For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek wisdom: but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but to them which are called, both Jew and Greek, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:22-24
Maranatha
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