Matthew 11:28-30 - Come to Christ and Find Real Rest!
Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV) "Come to me, all you
who are weary and burdened, and I will give you
rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you
will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is
easy and my burden is light."
WORD STUDY
YOKE
For many years I never understood that
Scripture, because I didnt know what a yoke was.
When Jesus says, Take my yoke upon you, it
sounded to me like he was going to give me something
else to deal with. My burden is heavy enough
already, Lord! I dont need to take your problems
on me!
Then I learned that a yoke is actually a
board with two arches in it that you put over two
cattle so they can pull a cart.
The value of a yoke is that it halves the
load. Without a yoke, one cows got to pull that
entire load by itself. But if you yoke up the cow
with another cow, then the two animals pull the
load together, and the load is half as heavy.
When Jesus says to take his yoke upon
you, hes not saying hes going to give you
his problems. Jesus doesnt have any problems!
Hes saying hes going to share your problems.
Hes going to share your load. Hes going to
take your stress on himself and bear it with
you.
Wow!
He uses three notable verbs in this
Scripture: come, learn, and take. Jesus says, Come
to me. Team up with me. Then, learn how I do
it. Take on a lighter load. This is going to
reduce your stress. This is going to make it easier
for you to navigate.
When youre yoked with Christ, you move
together with him. You move in the same direction and
at the same speed. And you move in the right
direction and at the right speed. [Daily Devotional by
Rick Warren: https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
GENTLENESS
Gentleness is an important quality to
practice. It defuses conflict. It disarms critics.
Its persuasive. Its attractive. It
communicates love.
Most importantly, gentleness makes you
more like Jesus. In Matthew 11:28-29, he says,
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you
and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in
heart, and you will find rest for your souls
(NIV).
Wait. Does this mean that the stress and
the pressure youre feeling in life reveal
that you are not gentle? Yes. Because the Bible
says that the gentler you become, the more
Christlike you become and the more at rest you will
be.
Do you want to be at peace? Do you want
to be like Jesus? You cant just walk out
your door and force yourself to be gentle. You
cant manufacture gentleness, because inside
youre still going to be under stress. Its got
to be an inside job. It has to be the
fruit of Gods Spirit inside you.
Jesus is gentle and humble. When you let
him share your burden, you will walk with him in
a close relationship. You will learn how to be
gentler and humbler, and he will give you rest and
peace, not stress and pressure. [Daily Devotional
by Rick Warren:
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
INTRODUCTION
Human nature is ever struggling for
expression, ready for contest; but he who learns of
Christ is emptied of self, of pride, of love of
supremacy, and there is silence in the soul. Self is
yielded to the disposal of the Holy Spirit. Then we
are not anxious to have the highest place. We
have no ambition to crowd and elbow ourselves
into notice; but we feel that our highest place
is at the feet of our Saviour. We look to
Jesus, waiting for His hand to lead, listening for
His voice to guide MB14-16
There are many whose hearts are aching under
a load of care because they seek to reach the
world's standard. They have chosen its service,
accepted its perplexities, adopted its customs. Thus
their character is marred, and their life made a
weariness... He bids them seek first the kingdom of God
and His righteousness, and His promise is that
all things needful to them for this life shall
be added... Our heavenly Father has a thousand
ways to provide for us, of which we know nothing.
Those who accept the one principle of making the
service and honor of God supreme will find
perplexities vanish, and a plain path before their
feet... DA328-332
COMMENTARY PEARL
Along with being still, rest is a theme
Jesus has brought to my attention this past year.
(Have you found Jesus is always seeking to teach
you something?) The way Jesuss loving intent
has come to light is the intersection of my
desperate need for rest and a bevy of messengers
repeatedly urging me to rest.
Stillness and rest, Im finding, are
not the same thing but are close cousins. In my
case, the call to stillness came first. I had to
carve out time to be still to hear and fully
understand the invitation to rest.
In my case, rest is not about spending
more time relaxing or having fun. Its a state
of mind that informs my very being. Rest means
that no matter whats going on, Im trusting
Jesus is ordering my steps, solving my problems,
providing, refining me - lovingly, completely, and
right on time. It mostly feels like going with the
flow, enjoying my life.
Yet neither stillness nor rest is
passive. They both depend entirely on the intimacy of
my relationship with Jesus - a level of
intimacy that, as with any relationship, comes only
with time, nearness, and attention to Him.
This idea of rest is gradually
revolutionizing my life as I lean into it more and more.
Could it have always been this simple? Could I
have skipped some of my striving and anxious
analyzing and gone straight to rest? I dont know.
Maybe everything has led me here, right on time.
by Isabella Yosuico
Faith Step: Consider Christs
invitation to rest in Him. Seek to learn how you can
receive Jesuss rest in your current situation.
[Mornings With Jesus 2020 Devotional by Guideposts and
Zondervan]
COMMENTARY
Relaxing with God
I was thinking this morning about how
wonderful it is to be relaxed with God. Spending time
with Him should be enjoyable and comfortable, not
rigid and filled with rules and lists of things we
think we should do. We don't have to do a
specified amount of reading and then pray for a
certain length of time. We can come to Him and be
ourselves. Our time with Him will include prayer
(talking and listening to Him), and it should include
reading and studying. because Gods Word teaches and
feeds us. It keeps us strong! But it is important
to be led by the Holy Spirit and to follow your
hearts desire rather than having a list of rules
and checking them off one by one.
Even if we have not had perfect behavior,
we don't have to shrink from His presence. We
can come boldly to Him, loving Him and receiving
His love and forgiveness. We can ask Him to meet
our needs because He is good, not because we
have been good.
Thankfully, we don't have to be afraid
that God is mad at us because we have failed or
been imperfect. He is filled with mercy and
loving-kindness and is waiting to shower it on you!
Go to God and tell Him that you love Him,
because that is what He desires more than anything.
Picture God as smiling at you with arms open wide!
Let His presence be the most comfortable and
relaxing place that you know of. We are made
acceptable to God through our faith in Jesus, and He
receives us as we are and helps us become what we
should be.
Father, I need to be refreshed and
relieved of all burdens. I come to You today in
faith, believing that You accept me as I am. Help
me to always enjoy You and to be relaxed in
Your presence. [My Time with God by Joyce Meyer]
Its Time to Take Out the Trash
It seems as though theres some
unwritten law of the universe that men must take out
the trash. I dont know why, but thats our
job.
For some reason I put it off at my house
even though its really not that hard. Our
trash cans have wheels and a handle, so all I need
to do is drag them out front. Then someone
comes along and picks up the trash.
They do their job, and they do it well.
Im glad about that because if they decided not
to pick up our trash for a month, wed have a
serious situation.
Now, what Im about to say might seem a
little odd: Jesus, in effect, wants to pick up your
trash. Let me explain. He said, Come to me, all
of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens,
and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28
NLT).
In other words, Would you please bring
your cares to Me? Would you please bring your
anxieties and your worries and your problems and your
burdens to Me? When you do that, I will give you
rest.
Thats quite a promise because we all
have cares and anxieties and worries that weigh
us down. You know the feeling. Just when you
lay your head down at night, here they come.
What about this crisis? What about that
uncertainty?
Sometimes youre able to give them over
to the Lord, but then theyll pop back into
your head again. It feels like a lot of weight on
your shoulders.
Heres what the Bible says we should
do: Give all your worries and cares to God,
for he cares about you (1 Peter 5:7 NLT). We
need to give deliberately and intentionally put
our worries and cares into Gods hands.
When your burdens pile up, bring them to
God. [Greg Laurie from Harvest Ministries;
https://www.harvestdaily.com]
When we're exhausted, the last thing we
feel like doing is fighting. Like a boxer who has
been knocked to the mat, we can't catch our
breath, let alone stand up and swing at our opponent
again. We're tired and overwhelmed. We begin to
feel like it doesn't matter whether we get up
again or not. We always seem to get knocked down
again. Another unexpected bill, a sick kid, more
work for less pay. Life is relentless.
But you're not alone. If you feel empty,
low, or defeated, God wants to revive your
strength. And as odd as it sounds, sometimes you have
to fight for it.
When culture screams at you, "More is
always better, remind yourself that less is
often more. The moment life gives you more than
you can handle, train yourself to stop, pause,
breathe deeply, and take whatever burdens you have
straight to Jesus.
Jesus told us to "learn from him." Sure
he ministered to people faithfully. Of course
he was available, willing to drop everything to
meet a need. But he also took significant breaks.
He rose early to seek his father. He broke away
from the crowds to spend time alone. He
experienced extended periods seeking deep rest for his
soul.
Not only does your body need a break but
so does your soul. Maybe it's time to slow the
pace. Breathe deeply. And enjoy his presence. You
may feel like you simply can't. Don't make
excuses. You can make excuses or you can make
progress, but you can't make both. Fight for it. It's
worth the fight.
You may not feel like you can afford to
rest. I'd argue you can't afford not to.
When I can't keep going, Lord, I know you
revive me and give me rest. You sustain my spirit,
strengthen my body, and calm my mind. Thank you for
letting me rest in you. [Daily Power by Craig
Groeschel]
CLOSING THOUGHT
Life has a way of dragging down, tiring out,
and frustrating even the most able-bodied
people. Relationships, careers, responsibilities,
burdens, and unexpected troubles weigh heavily on
hearts and minds, often pulling committed believers
away from building a relationship with Christ.
But He knows we're busy, overworked, and tired.
That's why He promises us rest - more satisfying
than the best nap ever - if we simply go to Him.
[Daily Bible Promise Book By Barbour Publishing]
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Come to Me, My weary one, and I will give
you rest. I know the depth and breadth of your
weariness. Nothing is hidden from Me! There is a time
to keep pushing yourself - when circumstances
require it - and a time to rest. Even I, who have
infinite energy, rested on the seventh day after
completing My work of creation.
Seek My Face, and then just linger in My
loving Presence while I shine upon you. Let
favorite scriptures amble through your brain,
refreshing your heart and spirit. If something comes to
mind that you don't want to forget, jot it down;
then return your attention to Me. As you relax
with Me, My Love will soak into the depths of
your being. You may want to express your love for
Me - in whispers, in spoken words, in song. I
want you to know that 1 approve of you and I
approve of rest. When you relax in My Presence,
trusting in My finished work on the cross, both you
and I are refreshed. (Mat. 11:28; Gen. 2:2; Num.
6:25) [Jesus Always by Sarah Young]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE
Matthew 11:28-30 - Come to Christ and Find
Real Rest!
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2017/20170123-1103.html
Matthew 11:29 - Humble and Gentle Jesus.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20201023-0943.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Revelation Now by Pastor Doug Batchelor:
https://www.revelationnow.com/
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio (recent):
https://bible.awr.org/en/the-signs/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
