His Burden is Light

Numbers 8:1-9:23

Mark 13:14-37

Psalm 50:1-23

Proverbs 10:29-30

It seems like a lot of pressure for Jesus to say we need to keep our eyes open, keep watching, because when He comes back He doesn't want to find us sleeping. It feels like too much pressure because I don't think I can will myself to constantly be seeking God, preaching the gospel, loving God, loving others...or whatever it is that constitutes being "awake." I don't know how to do that.

But it has occurred to me that maybe I expect more from myself that God does. I think God expects a lot from me, for sure. He expects a living sacrifice, my whole life, for Heaven's sake. But maybe that's just it...I don't need to worry about being better, being more conscious, or whatever. I just need to live my life, entrusting it to Him.

The whole analogy of the man leaving his house actually comforted me. Jesus said "It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch."

We are all to keep watch, but in our own way. We are each given a task and it suits us. It's not a heavy burden, no, His burden is light. His burden is light!

It's so important for me to remember that: His burden is light! I'm reminded of something I heard a pastor preach: if your burden is heavy, you're carrying more than you need to. God doesn't weigh us down with chores. Stop worrying, heart.

I think our task, our watching, our being awake could look a lot like what the Israelites did. They followed the Presence of God. When the cloud settled on the tabernacle they stayed. When the cloud left they left. "Watching" for the Lord doesn't have to be any more complicated than that. Where is He leading? What is the task He has set before you? How light is that burden?

Watching for the Lord isn't about "willing myself to keep going." Watching for the Lord is about daring to be content with where God has be. Watching for the Lord is about knowing that God is with me right now, right now.