Matthew 11:25-30
25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.
28 “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.”
Matthew 11:25-30 RESTING WITH JESUS
Springford Baptist Church: October 29, 2023.
I don’t know everything that you have experienced this week, but God does and He is offering you rest for your souls. This offer, this invitation is ours for the taking. If we are going to accept this invitation, we will need to do just what Jesus says-Come to Him!
I am deeply reassured that Jesus knows exactly what is going on with us. Jesus knows the things that make us happy and the things that trouble us, or unsettle us.
Jesus described it as being weary and burdened.
Certainly, there is physical fatigue with which we are all familiar. This can come from being up too late; unable to sleep; or worn out after a demanding day of work and activities.
Yes, these circumstances make us weary, but all of this can be cured with a good nap.
A weary soul is another matter.
Our souls grow weary with the burden of sin-both our own and the effects upon us of the sins of others.
Our souls grow weary when we are worried over the future and feeling uncertain about what it may hold.
Our souls grow weary-hear this- when we have not been spending time with Jesus so that He can bring us refreshment and peace-rest for our souls.
We`re quite familiar with symptoms aren`t we?
If you have a sore throat, what does that indicate?
A stomach ache?
A pain in your toe?
We are able to self diagnose when there are certain symptoms that present themselves.
Well, when we find that we are feeling weary and burdened in our souls, we are likely to be anxious; not enjoying the company of others as we usually would; feeling less patient; not having a very hopeful outlook or expectation.
These symptoms all point to the need for a remedy and the only remedy for having weary and burdened souls is Jesus.
This does not require a trip to the drugstore to fill a prescription. This does require a trip to a quiet spot where we can meet with Jesus and He can meet our needs.
Obviously, when we are physically sick, we want to take the necessary measures to get better. We know what it is to feel well and that is what we want.
Do you know what it is to feel well spiritually?
Do you know what it is to come to Jesus and to find rest for your soul?
If you do, then when you experience symptoms of weariness and feeling heavily burdened, you will want to accept the invitation of Jesus and come to Him!
This is not something to put off or to feel that you have to have certain things resolved in your life before coming to Jesus.
Jesus, God`s Son is, as He says, “gentle and humble in heart.” (vs. 29)
Jesus is not going to say, “How could you have gotten things so messed up”? or
“I didn`t expect this of you.”
Remember, we are talking here about the One who knows everything about us and all that has affected us and causes us to react the way we do.
I love the fact that we are invited to come to Jesus just as we are.
This is good news because it means that we don`t have to wait. We can come to Jesus this very day.
As many times as we have recognized our weariness and the burdens we are carrying before and have come to Jesus, we can come again.
There is no calling to book an appointment.
By now, most of us can be in the habit of recognizing how much we need Jesus and making it part of the pattern of our lives to come to Him to find rest for our souls.
Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3)
What God has in mind for us is so good. God is eager for us to find rest for our souls.
We all need a place to be a child, no matter how old we are.
It is wonderful to see the enthusiasm and openness of children, isn’t it?
Young children who have been well cared for, seem to have a simple trust in the unconditional love and acceptance of those who care for them.
They don`t try to make things look better than they are. They are so confident of the love of their care givers that they relax and express just what they are thinking and feeling.
This is precisely what God makes space for us to do in discovering rest for our souls. We do not hold back squeals of delight; expressions of need or desire; tears of pain, sadness, or disappointment.
We come like children to simply be with Jesus and what is true for us in that moment. Only this will allow us to find rest for our souls.
How desperately our souls need regular moments like this. These are moments when we rest in God and allow ourselves to be with God with what is most true about us.
What comes to mind when you think about an experience that has brought you relief?
Arriving at your destination after a long trip.
Getting home from shopping and bringing all the packages into the house, setting them down, and putting your feet up.
Having felt unwell and returning to feeling well again.
Struggling to keep yourself together until you could get home and not have to hide anything from anyone or explain anything to anyone.
All of these descriptions reflect what is like when we who are weary and burdened come to Jesus and find rest for our souls.
There is such relief to be able to come just as we are and to know that Jesus is just what we need.
This is absolutely the only way to find rest for our souls-to come to Jesus and to rest with Him and His everlasting love for us!