Finding Rest In Christ

-December 29, 2021-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

(Matthew 11:28).

Jesus is the only One who can give rest to the soul. He calls upon each person who labors and is heavy laden to come to Him and find rest. We are all born sinners and we carry a very heavy load of sin. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” In the allegory, Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan portrays pilgrim, a sinner carrying a heavy bag up to the cross; and there at Calvary it rolls off his back and he is forever relieved. It is such a blessing to forgiven of our sins.

Isaiah 53:4-5 says our Lord and Savior, “Surely He has born our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” Jesus died in our place on the cross, bore our sin, endured the wrath and judgment of God that was our due, then died, and rose again.

Only our Savior can take away the burden of our sin with its guilt, regret, shame, and heartache. He gives rest to our souls. The heavy burden is gone, our hearts are free. The hymn writer Charles Wesley wrote, “Long my imprisoned spirit lay fast bound in sin and nature’s night. Thine eye diffused a quickening ray; I woke — the dungeon flamed with light! My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.”

Who can adequately describe what the freedom from sin is like, the rest, the peace, the joy? Hebrews 4:9-10 tells us, “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.” When a person strives and works for his salvation, he gets exhausted and can never be saved from his sins sins that way. Only through the finished work of Christ on the cross can we receive salvation and eternal life.

As believers in this hectic world, we come to Christ for rest. He tells us to cast our burdens upon Him, for He cares for us. We have troubles, trials, and hardships, causing us pain and sorrow. He calls upon us to pray and gives us peace and rest. So there is rest in our souls at the time of salvation, and daily rest in and through the labors in life. Jesus is the ultimate “Rest Giver.”

Have a blessed day resting in Jesus, trusting Him for strength to face whatever is ahead. Our final rest will be when we get to heaven. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean