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Come Aside
“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.”
(Matthew 11:28-30 Taken from The Message)
Does this text sound familiar? It is
Matthew 11:28-30, taken from The Message,
by Eugene Peterson. It is one of the most beloved passages in all of scripture,
which touches the longing of every heart to find rest, restoration, and
refreshing from our pastor Jesus. However, familiarity with this passage can
cause us to read right on over it, if we are not careful. Most people can quote
it, but it is not an easy concept to come into. I like the fresh way this
rendering puts it, especially the part about learning the “unforced rhythms of
grace”. This describes the whole concept of coming aside. Finding the rhythm
between work and rest cannot be forced, neither can anybody can make you do it,
not even Jesus. It must be learned by experience, taught be our Good Pastor.
While I can share with you what I have learned about coming aside, emphasizing
the need to do it, illustrating it with examples of how I have done it, in the
end, only Jesus can show you how to do it for where you are at in this moment in
time. The real beauty of this passage is His promise to lead us into it as we
follow Him.
To learn more about the story behind Come Aside,
click here
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