(Audio recording started a few minutes into the sermon...Video below contains entire message)
Hello Friends -
A few weeks back I was able to share a message I wrote that explores the process by which transformation takes place. For followers of Jesus, we often find ourselves struggling to embody the same ethic, grace, and compassion that Jesus embodied. We struggle, we work, we battle ourselves all in an effort toward Christlikeness. However, in Matthew 11:28 Jesus says, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." How does one find rest in the pursuit of Christlikeness? Dallas Willard says it best,
"in this truth lies the secret of the easy yoke: the secret involves living as [Jesus] lived in the entirety of his life - adopting his overall life-style. Following 'in his steps' cannot be equated with behaving as he did when he was 'on the spot.' To live as Christ lived is to live as he did all of his life. Our mistake is to think that following Jesus consists in loving our enemies, going the 'second mile,' turning the other cheek, suffering patiently and hopefully - while living the rest of our lives just as everyone around us does."
It is this slow work of "adopting his overall life-style" that I explore in this message.