Jesus
Pastor Stephen Cheung points out that traditionally, the main point in the messaging of many churches has been to encourage the acceptance of Jesus so that eternal heaven can be our destination upon death. While there is an obvious appeal to this approach, the focus tends to be the post-mortem life, with a relative marginalization of the earthly existence we may have remaining. Furthermore, if the trajectory of the story is to usher in the good rule of God through faithfully bearing God’s image, then to neglect what Jesus was saying and doing between his birth and crucifixion is to devalue our own earthly journeys as well. Jesus’ invitation is for us to seek to become fully human, by imitating his concerns, his priorities, his actions, and thereby become agents of renewal for the creation in our current day, while simultaneously building for the new day to come.
Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
