Just Chill Out

Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." NIV

In the late 60s and early 70s there was a basketball player named Pistol Pete Maravich. He is arguably the best college player to ever have played the game. At a time when there was no three-point line and when the game was much slower because they didn’t use a shot clock, Pete averaged 44.2 points per game. Not only is that still the record, but it is 10 points higher than the guy in second place!

Pistol Pete was notoriously disappointed in himself. It was a lot of pressure to be that good. Just think about it; he could score 34 points, and kick himself because that was 10 points below his average and only half of what he scored on his best night! To anyone else, that would be a great game! To him it was a depressing failure.

Many Christians take a similar approach to life. Instead of enjoying the freedom of being forgiven and set free from their sins, they feel burdened by their constant shortcomings.  Jesus did not intend for us to be laden by the weight of unattainable perfection. Instead, he wanted to give us rest for our souls.  There is work in the Christian life, but his yoke is easy. His burden is light. And he is gentle and humble as he lovingly leads us into the work he has set out for us.

I wish Pistol Pete could have just enjoyed being awesome and I wish Christians could just enjoy resting in Jesus.