Resting In Jesus

-January 17, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Friday,

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

Matthew 11:28).

There is very little rest in this world, because so few find the true rest in Jesus Christ. We can rest our bodies, but only God can give rest for our souls.

This portion in Matthew 11:28-30 is both a gospel invitation for salvation and a receipt for rest for the believer in midst of trials, burdens, and difficulties. The key to this text is found in Jesus’ words, “Come to Me.” There can be no rest without Him.

Only Jesus can make the promise, “I will give you rest.” There is a close link between peace and rest; Jesus gives us both. Peace is the absence of conflict and agitation; rest is the comfort of relying on what He has done for us and will do for us.

Jesus gives a very interesting way to appropriate His rest in our lives: by taking His yoke and learning from Him. Two animals that are yoked together are joined to together to work as one. Often to similar animals, such as oxen, would be paired up to pull a plow and furrow a field. It was best to put one mature, experienced one with a younger, inexperienced one. The former helped the latter to stay focused and get the job done.

The lesson for us is to take the yoke of Jesus and be yoked together with Him. He will bear the brunt of the labor and give us the bulk of the rest. When we try to do things on our own, we fail, fall short, and get frustrated.

My friends, come to Jesus, rest in Him, yoke yourself to Him, and rely fully on Him. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

The hymn writer Mary James wrote, “O what wonder! How amazing! Jesus glorious King of kings, deigns to call me His beloved, lets me rest beneath His wings. All for Jesus! All for Jesus Resting now beneath His wings; All for Jesus! All for Jesus! Resting now beneath His wings.”

Dean