“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation]. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls. For My yoke is easy [to bear]and My burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 AMP
Grace Perspective:
Come. The Savior calls us to come to Him, to have a personal relationship with Him. A relationship not based on what we offer, but on His sacrifice for our sin. He calls us right where we are, weary, weak, burdened, anxious, fearful, self-reliant. He invites us to come to Him for salvation, rest, relief.
Jesus longs to give rest to weary souls who are weakened by the burden of sin, their own, and the sin in the world. Sin is a heavy burden, one we can’t find relief from apart from Jesus. That is why He came, to relieve us of a burden we can’t unload without Him.
Once we come to Him, confessing our sin and our need for His forgiveness, He lifts the debt of sin from our shoulders with His nail-scarred hands. We are freed from the heavy yoke of sin that keeps us from experiencing peace and rest.
The yoke of salvation that Christ gives us once we choose to follow Him is carved with love, mercy, grace, peace, and patience. It may not always feel light as we face various trials and tests; however, if we lean into knowing Him more deeply, He will strengthen us to carry on until we are home with Him.
Come to Him today, in whatever state you are in, and find gracious rest for your burdens.
A Touch of Grace:
What burdens are you carrying?
What do you need to lay before Christ to find rest for your weary soul?
Grace Application:
Exhausted, weary, and burdened; words that describe where I am in life right now. Exhausted from a busy life that seems to have narrow margins. Tired from my continued struggle with sin. I fight against my flesh that continues to be drawn to self-reliance, self-centeredness, and selfish desires, just self. Ugh…self is a heavy burden to carry.
But Christ offers a lighter yoke, the yoke of salvation. Though I am saved by grace in Christ Jesus, I often forget that His forgiveness of my sin has made the yoke easier to bear. When I stop to remember that all my sin is forgiven, then the burden becomes lighter. When I submit to His leading and lay aside my selfish desires, the weight of worry is lightened.
Christ Jesus doesn’t want us to clean ourselves up before we come to Him. He calls us to come just as we are. No matter what we’ve done, who we are, where we are, He invites us to come so He can lift the weight of sin from our hearts and replace it with forgiveness, rest, and renewal in Him. Turn to Him today and lay aside your heavy burden and receive the gracious burden He offers, rest for your weary soul.
Prayer:
Gracious Father, Thank You for lifting the heavy yoke of sin and replacing it with the yoke of salvation and peace in Christ Jesus. Forgive me for adding to my burden when I stumble and sin. Help me to remember that in Christ Jesus, all my sin is forgiven. Help me turn to You when life becomes burdensome and heavy. Remind me that the yoke Christ offers is light because He humbly gave His life for sin. Help me to rest completely in You. In the precious name of Jesus Christ, our Savior, Amen.
**Today, as you read this, I pray each of you will know for certain you are in Christ Jesus. If you have any doubt, please call out to God so all doubt may be erased. Today is a good day to be assured of salvation in Christ Jesus. If you have any questions, please contact me at graceisdawning@gmail.com**