our daily bread
0 views
Skip to first unread message
Dexu Xia
Jun 2, 2018, 3:14:55 AM6/2/18
to dmcf_dailybread
Free to Follow
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. Matthew 11:29
My high school cross-country coach once advised me before a race, “Don’t try to be in the lead. The leaders almost always burn out too quickly.” Instead, he suggested I stay close behind the fastest runners. By letting them set the pace, I could conserve the mental and physical strength I’d need to finish the race well.
Leading can be exhausting; following can be freeing. Knowing this improved my running, but it took me a lot longer to realize how this applies to Christian discipleship. In my own life, I was prone to think being a believer in Jesus meant trying really hard. By pursuing my own exhausting expectations for what a Christian should be, I was inadvertently missing the joy and freedom found in simply following Him (John 8:32, 36).
Lord, I'm so thankful I don't have to be in charge of my own life. Help me rest in You.
But we weren’t meant to direct our own lives, and Jesus didn’t start a self-improvement program. Instead, He promised that in seeking Him we will find the rest we long for (Matthew 11:25–28). Unlike many other religious teachers’ emphasis on rigorous study of Scripture or an elaborate set of rules, Jesus taught that it’s simply through knowing Him that we know God (v. 27). In seeking Him, we find our heavy burdens lifted (vv. 28–30) and our lives transformed.
Because following Him, our gentle and humble Leader (v. 29), is never burdensome—it’s the way of hope and healing. Resting in His love, we are free.
Lord, I’m so thankful I don’t have to be in charge of my own life. Help me rest in You.
True freedom is found in following Christ.
跟随主
我心里柔和谦卑，你们当负我的轭，学我的样式，这样，你们心里就必得享安息。-马太福音11章29节
我高中时期的越野赛跑教练，曾在一场比赛前告诉我：“不要争着领先，因为领先的人总是很快就会感到疲惫。”反之，他要我紧跟在最快的参赛者后面，让他们保持领先，我就能保存所需的精神和体力，以完成最后的冲刺。
领先者可能会精疲力尽，跟随者可以轻松自由。这个要领提升了我的跑步技巧，但是在跟随基督的生活中，我却枉费了许多时间才明白这个道理。我一直以为基督徒就是要努力做到最好，于是我耗尽心力追求心目中基督徒应有的样式，却在无意中失去了跟随主的喜乐和自由（约翰福音8章32、36节）。
事实上，我们无需掌控自己的人生，耶稣也没有要我们靠自己努力改变。相反地，耶稣应许凡寻求祂的人必得享安息（马太福音11章25-28节）。耶稣不像那些宗教师，强调严谨研读圣经或遵守增添的律法，祂教导我们，只要认识祂就认识天父了（27节）。只要寻求耶稣，我们的重担就变得轻省（28-30节），生命得到更新。
因为我们跟随着温柔谦卑的主耶稣（29节），奔跑天路就不再是个重担，反倒能让我们得着盼望和医治。在祂的慈爱中，我们是自由的！
主啊，我真感谢祢，
因我不需掌控自己的生命。
求祢帮助我，在祢里面得享平静安稳。
跟随基督能得着真自由
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. Matthew 11:29
My high school cross-country coach once advised me before a race, “Don’t try to be in the lead. The leaders almost always burn out too quickly.” Instead, he suggested I stay close behind the fastest runners. By letting them set the pace, I could conserve the mental and physical strength I’d need to finish the race well.
Leading can be exhausting; following can be freeing. Knowing this improved my running, but it took me a lot longer to realize how this applies to Christian discipleship. In my own life, I was prone to think being a believer in Jesus meant trying really hard. By pursuing my own exhausting expectations for what a Christian should be, I was inadvertently missing the joy and freedom found in simply following Him (John 8:32, 36).
Lord, I'm so thankful I don't have to be in charge of my own life. Help me rest in You.
But we weren’t meant to direct our own lives, and Jesus didn’t start a self-improvement program. Instead, He promised that in seeking Him we will find the rest we long for (Matthew 11:25–28). Unlike many other religious teachers’ emphasis on rigorous study of Scripture or an elaborate set of rules, Jesus taught that it’s simply through knowing Him that we know God (v. 27). In seeking Him, we find our heavy burdens lifted (vv. 28–30) and our lives transformed.
Because following Him, our gentle and humble Leader (v. 29), is never burdensome—it’s the way of hope and healing. Resting in His love, we are free.
Lord, I’m so thankful I don’t have to be in charge of my own life. Help me rest in You.
True freedom is found in following Christ.
跟随主
我心里柔和谦卑，你们当负我的轭，学我的样式，这样，你们心里就必得享安息。-马太福音11章29节
我高中时期的越野赛跑教练，曾在一场比赛前告诉我：“不要争着领先，因为领先的人总是很快就会感到疲惫。”反之，他要我紧跟在最快的参赛者后面，让他们保持领先，我就能保存所需的精神和体力，以完成最后的冲刺。
领先者可能会精疲力尽，跟随者可以轻松自由。这个要领提升了我的跑步技巧，但是在跟随基督的生活中，我却枉费了许多时间才明白这个道理。我一直以为基督徒就是要努力做到最好，于是我耗尽心力追求心目中基督徒应有的样式，却在无意中失去了跟随主的喜乐和自由（约翰福音8章32、36节）。
事实上，我们无需掌控自己的人生，耶稣也没有要我们靠自己努力改变。相反地，耶稣应许凡寻求祂的人必得享安息（马太福音11章25-28节）。耶稣不像那些宗教师，强调严谨研读圣经或遵守增添的律法，祂教导我们，只要认识祂就认识天父了（27节）。只要寻求耶稣，我们的重担就变得轻省（28-30节），生命得到更新。
因为我们跟随着温柔谦卑的主耶稣（29节），奔跑天路就不再是个重担，反倒能让我们得着盼望和医治。在祂的慈爱中，我们是自由的！
主啊，我真感谢祢，
因我不需掌控自己的生命。
求祢帮助我，在祢里面得享平静安稳。
跟随基督能得着真自由
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages