Leaning on Jesus

Tom Barnard

 

“God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that everyone

who believes in him should not be lost, but should have eternal life.”

(John 3:16 – J.B. Phillips)

 

John G. Paton (1824-1907) was a Christian missionary to the natives of the New Hebrides. He was born on a small farm near Dumbries, Scotland. The eldest of eleven children, he was led to Christ as a child by his godly father, James Paton. Among John’s early memories was the mental picture of his father going three times a day into the “prayer closet” at home and later coming out with a shining face “as of one who had been on the Mount of Transfiguration.” As a youth he remembered the voice of the Lord saying, “Go across the seas as the messenger of My love; and lo, I am with you.” He obeyed.

 

Years later—as a pioneer missionary to the New Hebrides—part of his work was translating the Scriptures into the language of the people of that distant place. He struggled with finding a word for “faith” in their language; there seemed to be no equivalent. One day a native worker came in from a hard day’s work and said, “Oh, I’m so tired. I feel I must lean my whole weight on this chair.” Paton said at that moment, “Praise God, I’ve got my word.” He thus translated John 3:16 to read, “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever leaneth his whole weight on him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”

 

We live our lives daily, trusting on man-made things—roads, bridges, overpasses, sidewalks, ladders—to do what they were built to do, and to keep us safe. We seldom ask, “Is this sidewalk safe?” We just step on it, trusting that whoever poured the concrete did it right. Jesus wants us to do that with Him. He wants us to lean our whole weight on him in everything we do, important and unimportant. He wants to engage with us in everything that goes on. Do you know this gospel song by Elisha Hoffman? Sing it with me.

 

What have I to dread, what have I to fear, Leaning on the everlasting arms?

I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, Leaning on the everlasting arms!

Leaning (on Jesus), leaning (on Jesus), Safe and secure from all alarms;

Leaning (on Jesus), leaning (on Jesus), Leaning on the everlasting arms.

 

Spirit of Christ, forgive me for taking for granted the many ways you provide a “leaning place” for me. I seldom even give it a thought, and almost never thank you for that place you provide. It seems like I have been there a lot lately, given the multiple crises we are facing as a nation.  If everyone were as slow to lean on you as I am, I shudder to think what shape we would be in today. But today, Lord, I turn to you. I need a place to rest. And there you are, just as you always are. I thank you for being exactly at the right place, at the right time, when I sense a need for your support. Amen.