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Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus has given examples of persecutions that will come to those who follow Him. He has given examples of how the secular world refuses to believe in Him, and the excuses they gave for not believing in the one who came to prepare the way for Him (John the Baptist, Matthew 11:1-19). Jesus has rebuked those who refuse to believe in Him, even though they have witnessed His “mighty works” (Matthew 11:20, NKJV). He then announced in Matthew 11:27, “All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” Jesus has made the people aware of the issues that are keeping them away from the will of God for their lives, but He does not stop there, He gives direction – He gives the practical application for the proper response to His teachings. In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus states, “Come to 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.” Just as Jesus has instructed His apostles to prepare them for their ministries, He instructs the congregation to a proper response as He has stated in Matthew 10:39 (NIV), “Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.”
This is the call of Jesus to everyone, everywhere, to believe in Him.
In Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV), Jesus states, “Come to 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.” Some of you may be intrigued by the fact that Jesus calls people to Him to give rest to all who labor and are heavy laden, and you may be able to see how nice this would be for all those people who find rest in Him. But you may also feel, and even hope for a time in which Jesus will call you to find rest in Him. My friend…He just did. The response now lies with you to open your heart to Him and invite Him into your heart to give you rest for your soul. He has given the invitation, and He waits for your response as love can only be offered, not forced. Will you say yes to Jesus today? If you will, you will find a life that has rest, peace, joy, and guidance through the trials and tribulations of this world. If you will say yes to Jesus today, you will find salvation in Christ Jesus who died innocently to pay for your sins for this very reason – so that you may find rest in Him.
Dear LORD,
We all labor and are heavy laden. You offer rest to all who will come to Jesus – the only way to You LORD as we have learned from John 14:6. I pray for strength today for all who You are calling right now, that they too will find rest in Christ Jesus, the Savior of the world! In Jesus name I pray, amen.