When we look at the first part of our text today we see Jesus talking to the people about living in a world of uncertainty, living a life of restlessness without peace and surety. “We played the flute and you didn’t dance, we played a funeral march and you didn’t weep and cry.”
John Lived out in the wilderness, he dressed funny, he ate some strange foods and he preached a hard message of repentance. He said things to the religious folks of the day like:
• “you brood of Vipers, you snakes , who warned you to flee from the wrath that is coming”
• “The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; those that don’t bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire”
• “His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
You know what? Some folks didn’t like John the Baptist or his message.
Then Jesus came along and he hung out with sinners, tax collectors, prostitutes and many other undesirables. But he preached a message of:
• Love and forgiveness
• He healed the sick
• Made the blind see
• The lame walk
• Loved everyone
You know what? Some people didn’t like Jesus and his message either.
I’m sad to say that we are no different today, we act like spoiled little children who are never happy. It’s not good enough that we get a drink we want a bag of chips to go with it. We are never happy with anything it seems.
Church folks are uncertain of what they want, as a matter of fact sometimes it seems that church folk are the most discontented people in the world.
That preacher preaches to long, that preacher doesn’t preach long enough. This preacher doesn’t stay long enough when he visits, Preacher came by and I thought he was never gonna leave.
I don’t like a contemporary service, I don’t like a traditional service. The choir doesn’t sing enough, the choir sings too much. It’s too hot, it’s too cold. The list goes on and on, we are a discontented and uncertain people and the sad truth is nothing has changed in over 2000 years. What is wrong with us? We are stressed out and tired over all kinds of things going on in our lives and we worry about things that don’t make a hill of beans about nothing.
The problem is our churches have too many Martha’s and not enough Mary’s, do you remember what Jesus said (Luke 10:41-42) “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary.
We are stressed and worried and uncertain and the truth is WE DON’T HAVE TO BE !!!!!!!
I think some of our problem is that we have truly lost sight of the main thing. We have lost our childlike curiosity and faith, Jesus condemned those cities where he performed many miracles then in verse 25 Jesus says “I praise you Father that you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. I think this verse alludes us to the fact that in order to understand better and be more content we must get back rooted and grounded in a childlike faith.
Think about it Jesus tells us that if we ask anything in His name it will be given to us. (Examples: healing, comfort, Joy)
Many folks say they believe it but they don’t act like they believe it. We need that childlike faith, think about it a child trust that whatever you tell them is true. (Give examples)
So how do we do it how do we find true contentment? We answer the invitation that Jesus gave us. Come to me; this invitation he gives is an invitation to all for us to receive salvation, to learn, to serve, and to rest.
He says Come:
• All that are weary
• All that are tired
• All that are lost
• All that carry a heavy burden
• All that are stressed
• All that are sick
The reason we stay so discombobulated and discontented is because we chase things that don’t really give us true satisfaction. So go ahead choose a worship style you like, contemporary or traditional it doesn’t matter, choose a theological stance, popular or unpopular. Read all the latest books on end time prophesy or special revelations from God. Go ahead and choose because none of these will give you true contentment or satisfaction.
The only way to find what your heart is truly longing for is to answer the invitation that Jesus gives, “Come to Me”
Nothing and I mean nothing can give you what you need except a relationship with Jesus Christ.
