Come To Me
Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30 (Click link for scripture in Bible Gateway)
28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30 NLT)
Recently I’ve mentioned the “Hard Sayings of Jesus” a couple of times. Some of the things he says are really challenging! If I take it seriously, and I do, his teaching digs really deep into my heart and mind and will. So when I’m wrestling with how to actually do the things Jesus tells me to do, I tend to forget that absolutely everything he says and does is motivated by his unconditional love for you and me. We’ve already seen this, When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (Matthew 9:36), and it won’t be the last time we come across the reminder that when he encountered people like you and me, he had compassion on them.”
So let’s take a deep breath here friends, and remember that Jesus calls us to come to him for rest. I’d like you to read the verses above again, slowly. Let this sink in. We’ve got burdens, some of us heavier than others, but sooner or later we all struggle under the weight of them. We’ve all got some kind of yoke to wear, some responsibilities, someone who depends on us, someone who has authority over us, we’re none of us “free as a bird!” This is a call from the Good Shepherd to come to him, to lay down the burdens and the yoke, and rest. Rest. Simply rest.
It’s not that he’s going to let us be on permanent vacation here, friends. He will teach us how to be heart-humble and heart-gentle. He will teach us to love and be loved, to serve and be served. We will lay down our old burdens and our old yoke and take up the burdens and the yoke that he in his wisdom and love has crafted just for each of us. The yoke is crafted to fit just right—it’s an easy yoke to bear. The burden is weighed just for each of us—it’s not too heavy. Come and find rest for your soul!
Prayer:
Father, Thank you for loving us enough to send your only Son so we can believe in him and not perish! Jesus, thank you that you came in humility and gentleness to save. I believe! I come to you for rest today. I exchange my burden for the one you’ve prepared. I exchange my yoke for the one that fits just right. I love you and I love your ways! Amen!