Wednesday Word with the Pastors

Feb. 22, 2012

“Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

Whenever you move, whether it is from one house to the next or from one city to the next, the things you have managed to collect that you do not need confront you. Maybe when you first held on to them you thought you would need them later, but as time has passed and you have not yet looked upon them – not once! – you realize these things have become a burden. And now they are a burden that you either get rid of or take along with you. If you decide to take them along with you they manage to grow exponentially in your new circumstances! So, although moving is difficult, it is also an opportunity to shed these burdens that you do not need.

Jesus was always on the move. I imagine that he did not have the opportunity to amass a basement full of forgotten papers, memories, and mementos. But, his movement was more significant than that – he traveled light (as the author Max Lucado once said). This means that he did not take the unneeded spiritual burdens with him either. And, as his disciples followed him they too had to give up such spiritual burdens that kept them weighed down and unable to move.

We hold on to many things – not just stuff – but memories, sins, hurts, moments of the past – all of which become an enormous burden. Often the collective weight of these burdens renders us unable to move – too overwhelmed by our anxieties. But, there is good news for us – Jesus has come and said, “It’s time to move. Let’s go through your things and see what you need and don’t need. Let’s get rid of this weight.”

How does he get us on the move? He says, “Follow me.” And then he sets off on the road to Jerusalem – to the cross – to the great display of God’s sacrificial love for us. As we trust him in our day-to-day lives he moves us along this path too. As we pray to become as he is, Jesus gets us moving down the path of love.

And all of this movement confronts us with the needless burdens we carry around with us. Their weight is too much to take with you as you follow Jesus. So what do you do with them? How do you get rid of this weight? The Bible says cast it upon the Lord. “Cast your anxieties on him…” (1 Pt. 5:7). In other words, ask the Lord to come in to your house (heart) and clear out all of this needless stuff. It might be frightening to let go of it, but you must do it, because it is too heavy for you to carry as you follow Jesus.

Today is Ash Wednesday. It is a moment to mark Jesus setting off on the path to the cross. But, it is also a moment for you to set off on this path – to get on the move. As you do, you will discover the overwhelming weight of the stuff you are holding on to. Ask Jesus to clear it out. And then, let it go.

I encourage you to go somewhere this Ash Wednesday where you can be marked by the sign of the cross on your forehead. Let it be a reminder to you that you are on the move – that you follow Jesus – and that you can cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Peace,
Aaron Teter