Perspectives

Matthew 11:28-30… 28) “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29) Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30) For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (NIV)

Jesus invites us to come join him and He will give us rest. All of us who are engaged in everyday life struggles that drain our spiritual energy. You who work so hard beneath a heavy load; come, He says, “Wear My yoke-burden for it fits perfectly and let Me teach you; for I am gentle and humble and you shall find rest for your souls; for I give you only light burdens.”

Many times, we hear and read about one’s attitude. Cultivating the right attitude is absolutely crucial if we seek to grow in our faith. The dictionary defines attitude as “a manner of acting, feeling, or thinking that shows one’s nature.” That means how we think determines how we respond to others. And here in Matthew 11 we have Jesus inviting us to shape our way of thinking with His humble servant life style.

Our attitude toward the world around us depends on how we perceive things in our own mind. If a person is selfish, then that individual will be suspicious of others. If we have a generous nature; we will most likely have a trusting spirit; when people are honest with themselves, they are less likely to expect deceit in others. If a person is inclined to be fair, then that person will not always feel they are being cheated. In a sense, looking at other people around us is like looking in a mirror. We see a reflection of ourselves.

But how could Jesus be as patient as He was? How could Christ remain cool under constant intimidation? How could He demonstrate so much grace, so much compassion, and at the same time so much self-discipline when faced with the Pharisees’ continued badgering and baiting? How could Jesus restrain Himself from pushing back? He had all the feeling we have as human beings. What was it that gave Him the edge we so often lack? Perhaps part of the answer was His attitude.

All this brings up a question: What is the most- Christ-like attitude on earth? My guess is most of us would answer that love prevails. That is understandable, for Christ’s love is absolute, supreme and beyond measure. Perhaps we might say patience, again, not a bad choice. We can find no evidence of impatience or anxious irritability when we study His life. Grace is a Christ-like attitude. No person ever modeled or exhibited the grace that Christ demonstrated right up to the moment He died on the cross.

Notice the words? “I am gentle and humble in heart,” which might best be summed up in one word unselfish. According to Jesus’ testimony, that is one of the most Christ-like attitudes we can demonstrate. Because He was humble and so unselfish, the last person He thought of was Himself. To be submissive means we need a humble heart. It involves being more interested in serving the needs of others than having one’s own needs met.

When we grow in and live this Christian lifestyle, we will acknowledge that it all started when we accepted Jesus Christ in a personal way, and allowed Him to carry the sorrows of life for us. If we are willing to do His will, we will find He gives us joy that, even the angels in heaven cannot experience. Someday our voices will join the angelic host and together we will make great music! But our joy will out do theirs, for angels never felt the joys that our salvation brings.

Would you pray this prayer with me? “Lord Jesus, come into my heart. Forgive my sins. I want my life to change. My thoughts and my attitude need to change. I do not have the peace in my heart that I yearn for. I really want that peace, joy and happiness that fulfills my heart’s desire. Please let the Holy Spirit help me be the kind of Christian that will honour Your Name. Amen”