Previous Service
Welcome
Worship
Word
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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30
We are familiar with the call from the Medical Centre to come in for a physical health check. Likewise, every now and again we should carry out a spiritual health-check. These words of Jesus are a good place to start. In, just prior to our text, we read:
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. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. “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.
Matthew 11:25-27
This sounds a bit exclusive with the words
- hidden these things from the wise and learned
- revealed them to little children
- no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.
But here in our text, we have the balance as Jesus appeals to everyone to come to Him that they might receive: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened.” “All” – the invitation is open to all. However, just as we will only go to see a doctor when we are unwell so the invitation is to those who realise they are needy – “all you who are weary and burdened.” So we come to Jesus not only for salvation, to offload the weary burden of our sin, but also in our ongoing relationship with Him, and especially if we are weary and burdened.
Let us especially check that we still think of God in these terms – “gentle and humble of heart”. We can make God out to be a hard-task master who is driving us, driving us, until we are worn out trying to maintain our relationship with Him and trying to do His work. Jesus Christ is God Incarnate, God the Son in human flesh and has come to reveal who God is and is Himself,
the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being.
Heb. 1:3
So whatever, we read of Jesus the Son, is the same for the Father and the Spirit. When Jesus states that He is gentle and humble of heart then this is true of the Father and the Spirit also. God, (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), is gentle and humble in heart. Are we exhausted? – then let’s rectify it because our loving God is meek and lowly and wants to lift the heavy yoke that life brings with its difficulties and pressures, even the religion we impose on ourselves rather than enjoying the abundant life of Jesus (see John 10:10). Come to Him with it all and leave it there. Right now Jesus is standing with His arms wide open to welcome those who come to Him with their heavy loads, to release them from it all, and replace it with His ‘life to the full’, His ‘rest.’ Compared to what we have been carrying His ‘yoke’ will be easy and His ‘burden’ light, So Come to Jesus!, Amen.
Quote of the week
“You have created us for Yourself, and our heart cannot be stilled until it finds rest in you.”
Augustine
Verse of the week
… this is love for God: to keep His commands. And His commands are not burdensome.
1 John 5:3
Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father, we praise and thank You that You know us through and through. Thank You that You want us to continue coming to You and receiving from You all Your abundant love and blessings. Lord we come now to You and ask You to refresh us; Come Holy Spirit, in Jesus Christ, Amen!