How is grace defined: Grace is good will and the love and mercy given to us by God.
Do you ever feel weighed down, discouraged, depleted or drained with cares or worries because of your responsibilities? If so, the great news is that you are in good company. The people who lived and worked closely with the Lord Jesus Christ felt just that way. Jesus invites those who are burdened, who are labored and are weary to draw close to Him. He promised He would help lift the burden.
Come unto me, all he that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and he shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV)
According to the apostle Paul who certainly worked harder in his ministry than all the other apostles. Paul was also faced with disappointments, burdens and felt heavy laden.
“But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” 1st Corinthians 15:10 (KJV)
In Greek the word work means “weary toil.” When quoting from the bible It is always good to see where the same word is used to get a better understanding of its meaning. The same word WORK is used by Paul in Acts he emphasised that “you can help the poor and needy by working hard.”
“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ Acts 20:35(NIV)
1st Corinthians Paul wrote “we have worked hard with our own hands to earn our living”
And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: 1st Corinthians 4:12 (NIV)
Yet in all our weary and toil Paul said “yet it was not I but God who was working through me by His grace”
We should get involved in supporting the weak by teaching and discipling them on a one to one basis, or trying to have a ministry. Do we sometimes work more than we need to supplementing our income with other jobs? If so, we very well may feel burdened and heavy laden by your weary toil.
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, 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 is light” Matthew 11:28–30 NIV
Jesus invites us to come to Him, take up His yoke and He will give us rest as we labor for Him, what a wonderful reassurance to know that we can rest in Jesus at anytime, not only because He understands us but because He can share the burden and lift it from our souls, thus giving us rest. Jesus is making us an offer it is for us to make the choice to come to Him and experience relief.
Conclusion
The apostle Paul corroborates a good example for us, he stated that he follows his Master’s instructions and that is what gives him the grace to go on despite the incredible burdens of his ministry. Paul earned his own living as well as caring for the churches he planted. We all have our busy schedule let us not be too burdened and heavy laden with the things of the world and forget the work of God. The grace to go on comes when the God of grace not only directs our work but works in and through us by the Holy Spirit to accomplish it. Paul loved to talk about God’s grace working through him. The same grace that was extended to the apostle Paul is available to each and everyone of us through Jesus Christ our Lord.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV
Read and be blessed.
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