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     Do you like to do things you can’t do well?  For some of us, it’s the first time we tried a new line dance — cupid shuffle, the electric slide, macerana.  By the third move, we have bumped into three people, then become three moves behind, and quickly trying to slink off the dance floor.  For some us, line dancing is too complicated.

     Have we made Christianity too complicated?  Does it seem too difficult to live for Jesus?  Do you feel you should be doing more? Evangelism. Service. Giving. Praying. Bible Reading.  

     Have you heard the saying, “Christians tend to should all over themselves.”  I should be doing this.  I should be doing that.

     We have made Christianity so complicated with so many things to think about and do that we can become paralyzed and do nothing.  However, Jesus says something completely different.

     In Matthew 11:29-30 Jesus says, “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.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

     The basic instruction for following Jesus is very simple.  Heartland Vineyard Church’s mission statement mirrors that simplicity.  Love God’s Presence & Love God’s People.

     It is taken from Matthew 22:36-40.  “Teacher (Jesus), which is the greatest commandment in the law?

     Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  All the Law and and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

     The first step is loving God and getting filled with his presence by believing and receiving what Jesus has done for us through the power of the Holy Spirit.  As we worship God as king of the world and us, dig into his word, and get filled with his love by the Holy Spirit, it gives us strength.  

     When we are filled with His presence, we need to give it away — the second step.  Jesus wants us so full of his love that if we don’t share it, we will burst.

     When my son was about three, we sang a worship song together while driving in our car.  My son was so full of joy, he shouted out, “I am so full of love right now, I just want to squeeze you daddy!”

     If a three-year-old gets it, then let’s stop making Christianity too complicated.