Easy – most of the western world is looking for “easy”. What is the easiest way to do something? How can we make that job easier? The pyramids were built with block and tackle, men and muscle. Today we use cranes, dozers, and mechanical marvels to build things of much lesser grander. I am of the same persuasion though, there has got to be a more productive, faster, easier, way to accomplish this task.
Many in the current generation growing up only know “easy” and “convenient”. Want to heat something up, throw it in the microwave, want information about something, look it up on line. A company even uses “Easy” as part of their marketing strategy. I hear it in the Kingdom as well. Things should be “easy”. While most people wouldn’t say it out loud, the line of thought is, “I don’t do hard.” It is too hard to commit to being part of something weekly, or I am not sure I’ll be able to attend, something may come up. Get up early to spend time with God, too “hard”. Walk in accountability with another close friend, too “difficult”. Could it be that we take the words of Christ in Matt 11 out of context? 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (NKJV)
I spoke with someone this week who gets up at 2 AM every morning so that he can spend an hour with the Lord before he leaves for work at 3 AM. Now that’s a challenge. We try and make it as “easy” and “convenient” as we can to get someone to commit, attend, or be a part. But I am not sure how “Kingdom minded” that is. Sometime the most rewarding things come with a price. And sometimes it is “hard” to do what He is asking. Jesus said to Peter, James, and John in the garden, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death..” (NKJV) Sounds like Jesus encountered some hard things in order to fulfill His God ordained plan.
Here is the balance, don’t shy away from what is hard as I believe that sometimes the hardest things to do, produce the most powerful results in our lives. But in the midst of it, never forget His words that His yoke is easy and burden light. If you are experiencing a challenging season of your life, don’t shy away from “hard”, but in the midst of the “hard”, don’t forget that He makes the “hard” “easy”, and that’s what we like.
D.O.V.E.