Weird thing about the Christian gospel: it *both* calls us to "pick up your cross and follow" (difficult, painful) *and* "come to me and I will give you rest" (easy, comforting). If our salvation lies in union with Christ, we must insist on both.1/4

I have to wrap my head around this repeatedly. It& #39;s not a contradiction. The resolution lies in the object or aim of each command. We are promised a sure relationship with Jesus. We can lean into/lay back into that, knowing it is imperishable, dependent on Christ alone. 2/4

But the dynamics of that relationship is discipleship, which will test our limits and take us beyond what we think we can do...or be. But failure doesn& #39;t threaten the existence of that relationship--we can rest in that. The Christian life is both: faith *and* repentance. 3/4

It& #39;s weird and wonderful: this relationship I can call home and be at ease within, and yet it will call me to be more than I would have imagined possible. The only appropriate response: gratitude, humility, and worship for such a God. 4/4