-Strenght for Today- Is There a Place Where I Can Find Rest?” - Matthew 11:28-30.
The best moments any of us have as human beings are those moments when for a little while it’s is possible “to escape the squirrel-cage syndrome,” of searching for “someplace to be somebody,” rather than being “the unbecomingness of a spectacular circus act,” and “be accepted as?part of the intended whole.” One thing many Christians are guilty of is that of “expressing fake?hospitality,” in a?zone where “friendship, “truth, and “oneness should be displayed.” But for “truly born-again believers (John 3:3),” we’re to be a zone, that expresses “radical hospitality.” Or to put it another way, “as blood bought citizens of heaven,” we should “embody the welcoming of Jesus for life’s weary pilgrims.”?
But this “radical hospitality,” or “fundamental nature of hospitality” can only begin with Jesus. In Matthew 11:28-30, we notice Jesus’s simple, “open-armed,” “huge-hearted welcome” that begins this passage in verse 28, “Come to Me.” When our men’s group is traveling, and after a long day of either driving, or flying, we’re hungry, and in need of a shower. We just “want a place to rest, a place that feels like home.” This passage is like that in a “spiritual realm.” Because Jesus’ simple words, “Come to Me,” are “like a huge neon sign along the highway of life for travelers,” who’re “tired and weary.” A huge sign that says:?
So, this morning: “Come, weary travelers. “Come to your true home.” “Come and rest.” “Come and be embraced by the God who was out looking for you.” Because the next phrase in verse 28 is: “all who labor and are heavy-laden.” Did Jesus say that only those who are worthy can come??
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No, He gave us only one qualification, “you just have to be tired.” “Tired of trying to measure up.” “Tired of justifying yourself.” “Tired of living as a broken person in this?fallen world.” So, if you’re tired,?Jesus says, “You can come to me.” Of course, you also need to believe that Jesus offers “a better way,” “a richer way,” and “a more life-giving way.” It “may not be an easier way,” matter of fact, “at times it’ll be a harder way.” But “it’s easier and richer than what we’ve tried to do for much of our lives.” So, Jesus says: “Come to Me.” Notice one more thing. Jesus tells us “that coming to Him means coming under His loving lordship and leadership.” Verse 29 says: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.” That’s a call “to be His disciple,” and “to learn life from Him.”?
In this passage Jesus says, “learn how to do life,” and “how to live life from Me.” Let Me be?“your ultimate guide for how to do life,” because “I?offer a yoke that leads to true rest.” Then notice the glorious promise Jesus gives: “You will find rest for your souls”- Matthew 11:29. You “will find true rest,” “rest that the world can’t give,” rest that success and achievement, and even the best things of this life can’t give you.?
Maybe today, you’ll say to Jesus, “I hear you say, ‘Come to Me all who’re heavy-laden,” (Matthew 11:28), well that’s me. “I’m tired of my yoke “I want to come under Your yoke. I want to learn life from You.” To this Jesus says: “Come to Me,” and get your rest “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” - Verse 30.?
Author: Plez Lovelady, Jr., PhD