Matthew 11:28-30 – 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.

The object of faith is not a church, a creed, or a clergyman, but the living Christ. Salvation is in a Person. Those who have Jesus are as saved as God can make them. In order to truly come to Jesus, a person must admit that he is burdened with the weight of sin. Only those who acknowledge they are lost can be saved. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is preceded by repentance toward God. Notice that rest here is a gift; it is unearned and unmerited. This is the rest of salvation that comes from realizing that Christ finished the work of redemption on Calvary’s cross. It is the rest of conscience that follows the realization that the penalty of one’s sins has been paid once for all and that God will not demand payment twice. Taking His yoke upon you means to enter into submission to His will, to turn over control of one’s life to Him. As you acknowledge His lordship in every area of your life, He trains you in His ways. In contrast to the Pharisees who were harsh and proud, the true Teacher is meek and lowly. Those who take His yoke will learn to take the lowest place. Rest for your soul is the rest that one experiences in the service of Christ when he stops trying to be great.

Challenge:

Jesus does not say that He will remove your labor or your heaven burden, but rather that He will give you rest in your labor. You must be faithful in the work that you are called to. As Paul says in Colossians 3:23, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.” God expects you to be a hard worker in your current position in order to require the need for rest. Notice, this weeks verse starts out by saying “Come to Me, all you who labor…” You must first put in the labor before you have the need for the rest. I can remember the days of taking morning and afternoon breaks every workday at 10:00 am and 3:00 pm. You would work in the morning from 8:00 am to 10:00 am and then take a 15 minute break. Then, after your lunch break, you would work from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm and take another 15 minute break. These breaks refreshed you and actually made you more productive once you got back to work. When was the last time you took a real break from what you do? In the fast paced world we currently love in, breaks seem to have fallen by the way side. But that does not mean they are no longer needed. Your challenge this week is to rest in the strength Jesus gives to you as you faithfully serve Him. Remembering these words, “Come to Me and I will give you rest.” Have a great Labor Day and may God bless you and keep you as you rest in Him.