Yoked to Jesus

Image
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, 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 light.” †  Mathew 11: 28-30  What is the labour and burden that Jesus is asking me to deal with? Perhaps I have to let go of the compulsive burden (or is it a sort of entitlement?) that my spouse and children should choose a spiritual path that I know to be right. Jesus accompanied Judas Iscariot to the very end but never deprived him of his freedom to choose his own destiny. Jesus on the other hand, uninterrupted by Judas's choice to reject him, continues to accomplish his mission. He does become a victim of Judas's betrayal but he seldom takes on the victim's identity. In divine wisdom, Jesus chooses to die in our place (and that of Judas) in a redeeming act of love. Rather than being compelled to fix those whom God has entrusted to my headship by m

I refuse, I embrace

Our bodies are the defiled temples, destroyed yet restored in Jesus - to be the sacred dwelling of the Spirit of God. This process of restoration begins it's course in our own bodies when we believe in Jesus Christ who is the resurrection and life. Resurrection begets new life.

God detests sin yet has tremendous compassion on the sinner. He clearly distinguishes sinner [Child of God] from his sinful nature. The same way, our bodies are to be perceived as a gift and it's corrupt nature, a show stopper [detestable]. The body is not to be discarded as less worthy but to be respected and restored to its original status though the renewal of our minds [according to the spirit].

St. Paul in Romans says Do not model your behaviour on the contemporary world, but let the renewing of your minds transform you, so that you may discern for yourselves what is the will of God -- what is good and acceptable and mature. [12:02]

The corruption of the temple [body] continues to retract us as we progress in our life in Jesus. These forces are the fruits of the deception of the mind [caused by satan] that attempts to re-define our restored bodies to be what it is not. We ought to combat this in our minds for Jesus gives us a new law, the law of the Spirit to validate and discern our options.

The book of Ecclesiasticus/Sirach says “Reflect on the injunctions of the Lord, busy yourself at all times with his commandments. He will strengthen your mind, and the wisdom you desire will be granted you.” [6:37]

We must allow the Word of God to transform us into its [Jesus’] likeness. And then from the fullness of the transformed self we must combat the flawed human nature by pronouncing our convictions. The key combat weapons are "I refuse" and "I embrace". I refuse what is not pleasing to God. and I embrace what is pleasing to God. A typical prayer would be "I refuse to feast myself with what pleases my eyes" and I embrace a superior joy, everlasting.

This constant combat springing from our hearts is a conscious effort which re-orients, habituates and uproots the laws of the flesh in us bit by bit. We continue to engage in this combat till we die. Maranatha.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Yoked to Jesus

പരിമിതനാമെന്നെ ഒരുക്കണമേ

Vulgar jokes & sacred thoughts