Author: Brian Burdett

“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” – Acts 20:24

Today we honor the life, work, and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King was born into a society of deep racism and injustice that didn’t align to God’s will, God’s Word, or God’s heart. What he saw didn’t reflect God’s Kingdom here on earth. Rather than accept this, he committed his life to changing it no matter the personal cost. Dr. King and those with him didn’t change the world through force of arms, but by the power and strength of the Holy Spirit as so many of God’s children came together in prayer and peaceful action.

While Dr. King is widely celebrated today, as followers of Jesus, we are wise to remember that many who loved Jesus and the Bible stood in strident and even violent opposition to civil rights. Many Christians were on the wrong side of sinful injustice and ungodly history. They stood there because of attachment to earthly structures and vile distortions of Scripture. We must acknowledge this shameful history so that we do not repeat it in our own day!

The Bible commands us to examine ourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5). Do our words, attitudes, assumptions, and actions truly reflect the Son of God and the Word of God? Are we working for a Kingdom-oriented society that reflects God’s heart for equality, brotherhood, justice, love, and mercy? Are there areas in which our thoughts remain so captive to patterns and strongholds of earthly sin that we’ve twisted Scripture to provide comfort for our sin rather than conviction?

“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
a bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;
and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”
– Matthew 12:18-21

This is Jesus, as prophesied by Isaiah and fulfilled by the perfect life and sacrificial death of our Savior! This is Who we are commanded to follow, imitate, and obey. Does this also describe His church? Does this describe His people? Does this describe you?

Note well, the character and concerns of Jesus. He proclaims (=pursues, enacts, values, treasures) justice in the power of the Holy Spirit. However, He does so without quarreling, shouting, snarling, fighting, or biting. He isn’t running wild in the streets. He isn’t hurtful, cruel, violent, or vicious in how He accomplishes His mission. Yes, one day He will return victoriously triumphant over all evil, yet even then, His sword is His Word.

Are we truly striving every day to live as Spirit-filled servants of God following our humble and suffering Savior?

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28

Is this you? Are you laboring, heavily burdened, and mentally or physically exhausted? Come to Jesus. He will give you rest. He is the rest you need. Lean on Him, pray to Him, pour out your heart to Him, cry out to Him. He knows and understands. He loves and cares. Let His Spirit refresh you.

If you keep reading in Matthew 11, you’ll learn that rest in Christ doesn’t look like kicking back at the beach. As Christians, our rest comes in binding ourselves to Him and working alongside Him. Our rest is found in nurturing the Holy Spirit within us and working in His power rather than our own. Our rest comes from doing the work Christ assigns rather than all the other stuff we keep piling on our backs.

Our rest is found in accepting the commands and burdens of obedience to Christ and refusing to take on additional burdens that don’t belong to us. We absolutely must do, serve, and live as Christ commanded, but we don’t need to take on extra burdens of Christian culture, adhere to false and legalistic religiosity, or carry guilt or penance for past sins or mistakes which Christ already forgave.

If, like many, you’re finding yourself weary, crushed, and nearly broken, stop what you’re doing and draw near to Jesus in prayer and worship. Lay your burdens at His feet and yoke yourself to Him to labor together for His Kingdom.

“So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 10:32-33

There isn’t much that needs to be said about this very stark warning from Jesus!!! Many signs indicate that we’re entering a time in history in which being a Christian who seeks to obey all Jesus commanded (especially making disciples) and practice the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints will become increasingly unpopular, uncomfortable, and indeed costly (at least socially). Too bad!

While we can lament the times in which God has placed us, that’s ultimately pointless. We must stand firmly in our faith and be bold in professing Christ, seeking to live like Christ, and working to love people like Christ. We must not hide our Lord and Savior, we must share our hope in Him. We must not compromise our faith, we must explain the beauty of it. A faith that we will not acknowledge before other people is not a faith that will save us from our sin.

“But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore;” – Matthew 10:30-31a

While hair numbering is admittedly an easier task for some heads than others, what a remarkable statement this is about God’s comprehensive knowledge, attention, and care for each of us! Jesus tells us that God knows us so well that He literally knows how many hairs are on our head. God cares so deeply about us that He knows and understands every detail, challenge, and struggle in our life.

As a result of this, Jesus says we shouldn’t fear. Period. We shouldn’t fear that God doesn’t understand, doesn’t know, or doesn’t care. He absolutely does. We shouldn’t fear that God isn’t present or listening when we cry out to Him. He absolutely is. We shouldn’t fear that we’re alone in our suffering or our service to Him. We absolutely aren’t.

Likewise, when we pray, there’s no need to pretend we’re OK when we aren’t. We can and should be honest in expressing our needs, praises, and sorrows. Because God already knows and invites us to speak honestly with Him. There’s nothing we can’t raise up to Him in prayer, because He already knows, cares, and wants to bring things together for our good. Fear not!