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When Covid stopped our services in March of 2020, I started a weekly news update and a prayer. Over the next 12 months, the news update turned into a weekly devotion, filmed with me sitting in a chair and sharing some thoughts, a Scripture, and a prayer.

As we approach our 110th anniversary, I've been looking at some of those older devotions. Almost exactly three years ago, in the first week of November 2021, the devotions changed. No longer was I just sitting in a chair; I also filmed scenes from outside the church or inside the church. I wanted to give more depth and texture to the weekly devotions. This is how I have filmed them ever since.

Today, I offer again the devotion from November 3rd, 2021, the first time I filmed exterior footage for the devotion.

The passage is still relevant. It's from Matthew 11. I think it speaks to us today as it did almost three years ago.

As we watch this devotion, may the Lord bless you and may the Lord encourage you and may the Lord minister to you. Thank you.

We live busy lives - perhaps too busy. We seem to have so little time to pause and rest. Jesus calls us to rest in him - this is what he tells us in Matthew 11:28-30.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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.

In the context of these verses, the Pharisees and teachers of the law demand that people follow the rules and regulations. It's not that Jesus doesn't also call us to walk faithfully with him, but his call is first into a living relationship with him where we find hope, forgiveness, new life, and rest for our souls.

How can we do this? We look to the cross. There we see Jesus who took our burden, paid the price for our sin, and opens the way for us to know him.

Today, as you go through your routines, may you hear the call to Jesus to take time with him, to find rest for your souls, and may you know his grace and peace.

視頻大意翻譯 (video Chinese translation):

嗨!

當 疫情 在 2020 年 3 月開始我們停止主日崇拜時，我開始了每周更新新聞和禱告。接著在接下來的 12 個月這更新變成了每周的線上靈修，我坐在椅子上分享一些想法、一節經文和一個禱告。

在接近 110 周年紀念日之際，我回去看一些較舊的靈修。我意識到，幾乎整整三年前，也就是 2021 年 11 月的第一周，靈修發生了些變化。我不再只是坐在椅子上; 我還拍攝了教堂外或教堂內的場景。我想給這每周的線上靈修更多的深度和質感。從那時起，我就這樣拍攝它們。

今天，我再次獻上 2021 年 11 月 3 日的靈修內容，就是我第一次拍攝外景。

這段信息仍然有意義。它來自馬太福音 11 章。就像近三年前一樣。我認為今天它還是對我們說話。

當我們觀看這靈修時，願主祝福你，願主鼓勵你，願主服事你。謝謝。

我們過著忙碌的生活—也許太忙了。我們似乎沒有多少時間停下來休息。耶穌呼召我們在他裡面安息—這就是他在馬太福音 11：28-30 中告訴我們的。

凡勞苦擔重擔的人、可以到我這裏來、我就使你們得安息。我心裏柔和謙卑、你們當負我的軛、學我的樣式、這樣、你們心裏就必得享安息。因為我的軛是容易的、我的擔子是輕省的。

在這些經文的上下文中，法利賽人和文士要求人們遵守規則和條例。這並不是說耶穌不呼召我們忠心地與他同行，但他的呼召是首先進入與他的活潑關係中，在那裡我們找到希望、寬恕、新生命和靈魂的安息。

該怎麼做呢？我們仰望十字架。在那裡，我們看到耶穌承擔了我們的重擔，為我們的罪付出了代價，並為我們打開了認識他的道路。

今天，當你進行每日的例行公事時，願你聽到對耶穌的呼召，花時間與他在一起，為你的靈魂找到安息，願你認識他的恩典和平安。

Grace and peace
Pastor Callum