Throughout Lent, we’ll be publishing daily devotionals written and narrated by members of our congregation. This year, our theme is Transformed in Christ. Today's episode is narrated by Rena Gernant, and features a reflection written by Roger Theimer, followed by an application written by Rena Gernant.
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Thanks for listening!
Hello! I am Rena Gernant and welcome to King of Kings’ Lenten Devotions, “Transformed in Christ”
Today is March 19th and this week we are reminded to Be Like Jesus with a Secure Identity
Today’s truth that transforms is: Rest in Your Position in Christ
Our Scripture reading is from Matthew 11.
25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
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.”
How are we “Transformed in Christ” and shaped to be more like Him?
We are human beings, not human doings. But we are so good at filling our lives with so much doing that we forget about being. Notice Jesus’ lifestyle. He took plenty of time for simply “being.” He found His value in who He was in relation to His Father. He rested in the position. He demonstrated it in His prayer life and in His conversation. Likewise, He invites us to find rest in Him. Our standing is not determined by our accomplishments or even pledges to accomplish. We simply are at rest with Him. We rest from our work and striving. We rest from trying to earn His approval. We rest in our position of being dearly loved. We are connected to Jesus Himself, and like Him, we rest in our position.
Rest. I know what rest looks like: An associate after a mercifully short battle with COVID. A friend after a recurring struggle with ovarian cancer. My dad after a short fight with pneumonia. My mom after an unrelenting course of leukemia. Resting. In each of those moments, I consoled myself with the promise of Christ in Matthew 11:28. “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden. I will give you rest.” When the physical battle is done, when the peace that passes all understanding is realized in death.…I remember that truth. It’s harder, though, to remember when it’s the burden of day-to-day. When I am tired. Tired of death, of politics, of work, of people, of this world in general. Still, the truth remains. Christ is present. Present in all of it. Christ works to use my circumstance, our circumstance, to ensure that His promises can be fulfilled. Romans 8:28: And we know that God works for good for those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Lent asks us to reflect on His purpose. Lent reminds us of the darkness, of sin, of the challenges of this world. Lent calls us to repent. Lent calls us to trust. Lent calls us to rest…knowing our position in Christ, the Risen Lord, who has called us according to His purpose.