There’s an invitation given to us by Jesus. It’s simple. But it makes all the difference in the world. Life becomes livable. People can’t find peace, so there is a restlessness. They try prosperity and popularity, but still they can’t find it. The devil wants to rob the Christian of his/her peace. The rest Jesus gives can’t be found on the earth in material things. It must come through coming to Jesus.
Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
There is a difference between sleep and rest. Rest is hard to find. I’ve slept many times and felt just as tired as I did before I went to sleep. Rest is not from here. It’s from above. Who gives it? Not me! Not the world! It goes to the soul and extends to all areas of your life.
The invitation is given to all who labor and are heavy laden. What burdens us down? Whatever it is troubles us, becoming that heavy burden Jesus spoke of. The effect causes us to labor. We struggle. We’re discouraged, weary, worried, anxious. So many things can cause it. When we fail the Lord we should feel guilt. We should go to Jesus to be forgiven. Those who haven’t been saved are drawn to the Lord by the Holy Spirit. When we go to him we find rest for the soul. We can’t bear the guilt. We have an advocate in Jesus Christ; he goes to the Father for us. He’s faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The laboring will go away when we are willing to take it all to the Lord and find relief.
The devil works to pull us down. He’s there to accuse and aggravate us when even natural things happen. Go to Jesus; he’ll rebuke the devil. There’s no reason to be under such a strain. It makes us weak. In that state the devil will accuse the Lord blaming him for the circumstance we are in. The blame is most often our own because we haven’t taken it to God. Let go and let God. He said come and I WILL give you rest. Keep believing. Keep trusting. God will release you from the burden.
Jesus offers rest for the conscience. Some people don’t have one; it’s been seared. Thankfully we have one and it can have rest; the Lord offers rest to the mind. Do you want peace of mind? Bring it to Jesus. Lie down in green pastures beside the still waters. It feels good to unload before the Lord. Maybe it’s time. Lay it all at his feet and he’ll give you rest.
Jesus bore what’s taking you down. Isaiah 53:3-5 says He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Come at once; come as you are to Jesus. Come believing and surrendering. The yoke of the Lord is much easier to wear than the yoke you wear now. The Shepherd takes care of his sheep. He’s the Light in the darkest night. His burden is light, not heavy. Let go. Give it all to Jesus.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 