Soulfood

I resolved this year that every time I thought about buying a book at the CCEF conference that I would recall to my mind the 20-25 unread books on my shelf from previous CCEF conferences and ask myself – will I really read this? (I still intend to read every book on my shelf, but I need to give myself some breathing room – and there are old books to re-read as well!). So I worked hard to restrain myself and stick to some hard limits.

One book that caught my eye, though, is Michael Reeves’ short book Come, You Weary: Enjoy Christ’s Comfort. It was only $3.49! And only 62 pages! And I loved his earlier book in the Union series, Rejoice and Tremble. https://hungrysoul.blog/2024/01/08/book-quotes-rejoice-and-tremble-michael-reeves/

Did I ever post a review? No I did not. But consider this a strong recommendation.

Come, You Weary is a series of mediations on the person and work of Jesus Christ. It’s the sort of book you can keep by your bed or in your car to help yourself remember who Christ is and what he has done for you when you are fearful, doubting, despairing, discouraged, or simply…yeah, weary.

I picked it up from the bookstore on Friday morning and read about half of it during lunch break on Friday during a walk in the park in between Hershey Lodge and Hershey Medical Center. And then I finished it last night before bed. Here are some highlights from the first read through:

“On the throne of grace, we have a lord and a great high priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses, having been tempted in every way like us (Heb 4:14-16). And having experienced on earth every form of pain, rejection, and sorrow, Christ in heaven is moved by our struggles more deeply than the most loving family member or friend we can think of…Weary, stumbling Christian, since Christ has shed his blood for you, do you really think he could not care about you? That you are alone in your weariness and distress? He humbled himself for us; he endured the most awful suffering, rejection, and death for us; and he was exalted for us, to bring us to glory.” (pp. 25-26)

“In light of all that we have seen, it can be no surprise to learn that our labour does not need to be a burden we carry all by ourselves. And isn’t that the weight which so often grinds us down, leading to so much stress and burnout in the church?

“We labour as if the victory were not ours already, and we work as if everything were up to us. As if we were necessary. As if everything would fall apart if we didn’t perform ‘just so.’

“God the Father has happily left the government of the world in the hands of Christ. You too can leave all your concerns in his hands. Remember how he cares. Those who touch the saints touch the apple of his eye. He wields all for his beloved.” (pp 34-35)

[On Ephesians 1:23] “Christ fills all things with his fullness, which is his bride. In other words, the body of Christ is the fullness with which Christ fills all things…Through the church, Christ fills the universe with his glory. She spreads abroad and possesses the nations.” (pp 50-52)

It is well worth a read!