I am sure that almost everyone has heard of the idiom “the straw that broke the camel’s back”. It is interesting to read its etymology. There does not seem to be a consensus of opinion. No problem. What I want to share with you is my own version of this idiom.
My idiom is ‘the straw that breaks religion’. Consider this acronym for the word straw. S.T.R.A.W. = (be )Still, Take His yoke, Rest, Abide, Wait.
The STRAW that breaks religion’s hold on the believer is to BE STILL, and TAKE HIS YOKE, so that you will find REST for your soul; and in your REST you will learn to ABIDE in Him, and become able to WAIT for the Lord.
Reflecting upon those words will loosen religion’s hold and grow your relationship with Christ.
I want to encourage you to do your own follow up regarding each of the words used in the acronym for the word STRAW.
For instance:
BE STILL: Psalms 46:10, NKJV says, “BE STILL and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
TAKE HIS YOKE: Matthew 11:28-30, NKJV says, “Come unto me, all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. TAKE MY YOKE upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For MY YOKE is easy and My burden is light.”
REST: Hebrews 4:9-10, NKJV says, “There remains therefore a REST for the people of God. For he who has entered His REST has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.”
ABIDE: John 15:4, NKJV says, “ABIDE in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it ABIDES in the vine, neither can you, unless you ABIDE in Me.”
WAIT: Psalm 27:14, NKJV says, “WAIT on the LORD; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; WAIT, I say on the LORD!”
What you will discover when you use a concordance or the cross references in your Bible, is how many of these words intersect their thought in the scripture.
The nation and the world in which we are living is besieged with rhetoric that is inflammatory, deceitful, full of lies, and creating an atmosphere of lawlessness.
Christ is our Rock, our Refuge, our Shield, our Fortress in these turbulent times.
Christ is the Word.
John 1: 1-5, 14,16,18, NKJV says, ” In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him; and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth…And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace…No one has seen God at ay time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.“
Our refuge is in Him, and His Word.
Let us unite ourselves in Him afresh, by being STILL, taking His YOKE, finding our REST in Him, ABIDING in Him, and WAITING upon Him.
“Psalm 62:5-7, NKJV says, “My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God.” (emphasis mine)
a sojourner in Christ, deo
Living Words of Encouragement 