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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
How far do we allow our petrol tank to get low before we fill up? Do we ever run out of fuel? Are there practical lessons to enable us to remain filled with all we need, all the days of our lives, as we work and serve as disciples of Jesus Christ? There are parallels here for our lives – Physically – Emotionally – Spiritually – Financially – Mentally.
How can I keep my tank filled for the journey – for the work You have called me to do – and to remain faithful all the days of my life?
It is good to start our day with a full tank – and that may mean what is called a quiet time – the reading the Bible – these precious moments in prayer.
Never be too busy to pause and refuel. That will require a degree of spiritual discipline – involving saying YES and saying NO.
It is possible to be unaware of leaks that can be draining me – and we soon run on empty.
Never Ignore the owner’s manual – pushing my car farther than it was created to go. How often do people try to do this?
Our tank will never grow any bigger. Sometimes we think – my tank is getting bigger! We tend to push our body farther than it was intended to go – our minds – our emotions – our finances – even our spirituality.
We need to rest – refresh your soul - and recover your body – and fellowship.
Hurry - The faster I drive, the faster I run out of fuel. Living too fast can drain our emotions – our finances – our bodies – our mental fuel.
Being distracted and not watching the gauges - (Or not believing them!) I do not believe that – maybe it is broken! Sleep is a gauge. Irritability is a gauge. God gives us warning lights.
Having too many commitments – if we have too many irons in the fire, we might put out the fire. The more I carry, the sooner I run out of gas – and we may lie to ourselves saying, “I can handle this!”
Pressure to do it NOW . Rapid acceleration wastes fuel.
Pride – Thinking the limits of my tank do not apply to me. Arrogance and ego can drain our tank real fast.
Not allowing time to fill up. We rush out the door without a full tank because we have not taken time to fill up. Worry drains people more than work.
HOW TO KEEP YOUR TANK FILLED Jesus said, “IF YOU ARE TIRED from carrying heavy burdens, COME to me and I will give you rest. TAKE my yoke upon you, and LEARN from me, for I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find REST FOR YOUR SOUL. For the yoke I share with you is EASY to wear and the load or burden is LIGHT.” Matthew 11verses 28 to 30
Get fed up with the way you are living until you want to live differently – living in a rut – feeling stressed and facing tensions – pressured – being over extended.
We do not necessarily change when we see the light – but when we feel the pain.
There comes a point where we recognise we are tired or weary. Our present culture tends to drain us more than we realise.
Many are famous, but not fulfilled – a lot of money, but not a lot of meaning – ‘successful’, but worn out and stressed – a lot to live on, but nothing to live for. It is either breakdown – or breakthrough.
Come to JESUS - “COME to me and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11verse 28.
Now many will scoff – and mock and resist and laugh at that. But come and give HIM your life – your good and best in life – the bad in your life – what is exhausting you – the pain in your life – the sadness in your life – the frustrations you face.
Jesus does not say – come to church – to religion - to rules – to a programme – to rituals – or a pill. Some came to Jesus for all kinds of reasons – Jesus did not care why people came to Him, as long as they came. Stressed – in trouble – lonely – facing stuff – unsure of life ahead – how God wants me to live my life.
Come to me – not a seminar – not a book – not a sermon – I will give you rest for your soul – your life – this is more than tired muscles – but a tired mind – from anxiety – from worries. Entertainment will never give rest to our lives.
Society – culture – says ‘GO’ – Jesus says ‘COME’ to ME. Find a quiet place – where you cannot role play in front of our living God.
We try to control everything – the purpose of a “YOKE” is to harness us to Jesus – to share and lighten the load. You will not lose your dignity if you do that! Jesus takes the load we are carrying. He shares our burden.
When I’m “yoked” with Jesus, we move together in the same direction and at the same pace – we cannot go faster than Jesus – and we cannot go in a different direction – and get into trouble. We are going to be yoked to something throughout our life. EASY means it fits perfectly – it suits you – you can wear it!
COME – TAKE – LEARN - LEARN from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Verse 29 We are still learning – we did not get overloaded and stressed overnight – it can take time to sort it all out. This is the most important invitation we can ever receive.
Gentle & Humble and Rest are antidotes to Stress and Aggression.
“Lord God Almighty – these are such valuable words – this is such a relevant lesson for these present times – Jesus, you have the answer for our every problem and for every question. As we confess our sins, forgive us. As we acknowledge our need, help us. Encourage us to take these very practical steps – and fill us with the Holy Spirit – and show us how to remain filled with the Holy Spirit. Hear us as we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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