Momentum For Monday, May 16th 2022

“All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets stem from these two laws…” (Matthew 22:36-40)

One of the hardest parts about mental health is how complex it can be. It impacts every single part of a person and can impact families and so on. Sorting through things to work on mental health takes time, commitment, and patience. Sometimes just realizing that can trigger more anxiety (just me?).

A weary mind is not healthy, never at peak performance, and often under-productive. Even more, it's often distracted from who and what we need most- God. Now, if that describes you, don't get even more weary, there's always good news if God is involved.

There is a point when Jesus is approached by some religious experts on the law. They were trying to trap him by asking him a certain question knowing full-well what they were doing. They're question- what is the greatest commandment?

First off, if multiple people approach me at the same time, I'm already anxious. Second, there's over six-hundred commandments in the Old Testament and these guys are straight-up testing him. Yet Jesus, passes this test with flying colors. However, it's not what Jesus said that I want to bring to attention, but what he did.

A religion of over six-hundred commandments is complex, even difficult I'd say. How can a person become well-acquainted with over six-hundred parts to their relationship with God? Buying anything from Ikea alone stresses me out. But here we have Jesus taking something overly-complicated and simplifies it. He boils down hundreds of commandments to two.

I'm not sure about you, but I always appreciate a person who makes things easier in my life. When someone can bring clarity and not calamity, ease and not stress, peace and not panic. For us, that person is Jesus, especially for the weary and worn-out soul. When life seems like it is too much and in six-hundred pieces, take yourself to Jesus.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

(Matthew 11:28-30)