'Draft with Me'
Theme of the Week: Taking God's Dare
Saturday, January 25, 2003
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Q. I can't relate to Jesus' "Take my yoke upon you" invitation (in Matthew 11:30). How might this work in a modern example?
A. Recently I've taken up riding with my son, Nathan, who has taught me much about the world of cycling, including the disconcerting realization that I am getting old.
In cycling—just as with Canadian geese—the leader slices through the wind while anyone who is following "drafts"—that is, he rides in a pocket of diminished air resistance. This enables the one drafting to conserve energy and to stay up to speed.
Jesus promises us, "Let Me lead, and draft with Me, for my legs are iron and my lungs are vast reservoirs, and you will find rest."
Drafting Jesus is better than drafting any typical rider. In the film Breaking Away, a young cyclist drafts behind an 18-wheel truck until he reaches 70 miles an hour.
Following Jesus on life's roads is like drafting an 18-wheeler; we're still pedaling hard, but our progress astounds. Yet it's only by following closely—within inches—that we receive the benefit. Following from a distance only increases our frustration, for keeping up on our own power is impossible.
"Draft with me," Jesus urges, "all who pedal uphill and are fighting the wind. Honor me and my commandments, get in line with me, and I will give you peace and power."
Obedience isn't for God's benefit; it's for ours. If we aren't finding Christianity restful, we aren't drafting Jesus.
Chris Blake, author of Searching for a God to Love, teaches in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Adapted from Searching for a God to Love (Word, 2000) by permission.
Copyright © 2003 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
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You abandoned heaven for me, O Christ; give me the resolve to pour out my life for You.
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