I went to get in my recliner tonight but it seems to have been taken and she (Heidi) was resting very well, so here I sit writing. It seems that there is a lot to be said about rest. Last week the Blessing of the Bikes was GREAT, but I will also say it was a stressful week as a Pastor. We all need rest, so what about this rest.
Let’s take a group quiz to see how many of us are being dragged through life. You Fill in the blanks:
I’m ready to throw in the…
I’m at the end of my…
I’m just a bundle of…
My life is falling…
I’m at my wit’s…
I feel like resigning from the human…
Apparently we’re all experiencing the rat race. Just when you thought you were getting ahead, along come faster rats. But remember, he who wins the rat race is still a rat. That also includes you Bro. Guy (insert laugh here)
We need to learn how to experience rest. If all we needed was physical rest we can always take a nap. If we needed only emotional rest, we can always take a vacation. But where can we find spiritual rest? How can we obtain relief regarding the deepest issues of life at the deepest level of our hearts.
Matthew 11:28 – 30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
This passage contains 3 commands from Jesus that lead to rest.
I will experience rest for my soul as I obey Jesus’ command of…
1. COME TO ME “Come…all…and I will give…”
Jesus regularly invited people to come to Him to meet their needs. NOTICE: What Jesus did NOT say, “Come to church to find rest” Christianity begins with meeting Christ personally. Going to McDonalds does not make you a hamburger. Going into a garage doesn’t make you a car. Going to church does not make you a Christian (you must meet Christ personally).
In Jesus Christ the full penalty has already been paid. You can begin life anew and have the page wiped clean. God did not send Jesus to rub our sins in, but to rub them out. He bore the guilt and paid the penalty, there is nothing left to pay. Come and rest in what Jesus has done for you.
2. TAKE MY YOKE (upon you)
YOKE: “a type of harness that connects a pair of oxen.” A pair of connected oxen was typically called a yoke of oxen. Used metaphorically to refer to submission to a teacher In NT times the phrase, “to take the yoke of”
The yoke of rules and religion. MANS YOKE
Acts 15:7-11 spells out the yoke of following rules and religious system to be accepted by God. This is the way most people are familiar with the idea of relating to God – through rules and religion. This is not the “my yoke” that Jesus speaks of, but the yoke of relationship is JESUS YOKE
Jesus said that His yoke is easy “well fitted.” It fits the need. Rules and religion don’t fit the need for personal relationship. His yoke is easy compared to man made religious yokes. His burden is light compared to the burden of human effort. I can imagine Jesus’ sign outside his carpenter shop, “My yokes fit well!”
Jesus commands we take up HIS yoke to find rest. There is no rest in rules and religion, but only in a personal relationship with God based on the finished work of Jesus.
Which yoke have you been under? Jesus’ or man’s? We access all that God has for us through our choices.
3. LEARN FROM ME
His third command is to learn from Him (are you open to learn?) All of us are ignorant, just on different subjects We come, take up His yoke, the process of learning begins.
Religious people can be cold and harsh, but no so with Jesus. His gentleness draws us to Him with our cares and concerns. Wouldn’t it be great to have someone you can pour out your deepest thoughts to, a gentle person who has the strength to help. We need to learn that He wants love on us.
1 Peter 5:7 Give all your worries to him, because he cares about you.
Again, religious people can be arrogant and rude toward us. Pride and self-centeredness is descriptive of the Devil. The very things that turn people off from the church are the very opposite of what Jesus is really like.
Hurting, lost and weary people were drawn to Jesus because He cared for them and met their needs.
THE REST HE GIVES (FREE GIFT): Once and for all we rest in His work on the cross for us to make us acceptable to God.
THE REST WE FIND (DISCOVERY): There is no need to fear what Jesus might do in your life. He is gentle and humble. The more you learn that about Him, the more you will find your rest in Him.
Does your life feel like the ox whose pulling himself to death. Rest comes from obedience to Jesus’ commands. COME to Me, TAKE My yoke upon you, LEARN from Me.
Hebrews 4:11 So we must make every effort to enter that place of rest. Then no one will be lost by following the example of those who refused to obey.
Anticipate!!!
Pastor Bryan Strickland
