Scripture Reading

Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Insight on the Word

This is Christ’s first recorded general invitation to all men. The last is found in Revelation 22:17, “…let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Christ makes a call for all men to come and rest, come and be refreshed with the water of life! There is no doubt Christ is calling us to rest and refreshment.

Life is hard and without proper rest it can easily break us! In addition “religion” is hard. The rules, creeds and regulations of man-made traditions can weigh us down just as the Mosaic rites and additional burdens of the Pharisees, had weighted down the Jewish people. So much so that two times in this passage Christ calls for rest.

The burdensome weight of religion is not what God intended for us. We are told: “What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. His soul shall dwell at ease;” (Psalm 25:12-13) Indeed we are promised: “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” (Jeremiah 6:16)

Truly our walk with God should not be burdensome but it should be joyful, light and easy, knowing that our faith rest not in our own works, but in the work of Christ on the cross. The believer who knows this will indeed “…entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works.” (Hebrews 4:10)

Speak the Word — My yoke is easy and my burden is light! (Matthew 11:30)

Daily Bible Reading — 1 Samuel 14 – 16