When Rebukes are Required

Sometimes I feel like a Pharisee.

When the things I tell others do not line up with the things I end up doing.
When my knowledge of Scripture is great, but my time spent with the Lord is low.
When I have a lot of the answers, but haven't applied them.
When I read Jesus' words and then just turn the page.
When my day is going to waste, but I'd rather watch another episode of anime.
When I know God's will for me, but don't do it.

This is when I wish Jesus would show up physically and rebuke me.

It's so hard to rebuke yourself and not end up in a spiral of depression and apathy and lack of motivation.
It's so hard to pick yourself up off the ground if you see the next stumbling block a few steps away.
It's so hard to move forward, when the past and present tell you to just stop.
It's so hard to die to self daily and just let Him live through you.

It's hard. Jesus never said it would be easy.

But He also never said we had to all the work ourselves.
But He also never said we had to make ourselves perfect.
But He also never said we had to bear a heavy burden.

"I am with you always"

"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me ... my yoke is easy, my burden is light"

There is still a yoke; there is work to do. There is still a burden; but He has done most of the work already. There is still difficulty; but He is with us through it all.