Episode 28: Matthew 11:28-30
Transcription
Today’s verse is Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Let’s pray together.
Jesus, what a perfect picture of who You are, given in Your own words. You said that You are gentle and lowly in heart. It’s easy to create pictures of who You are in our head, ones that have been influenced by our parents, our cultures, and so many other things. I pray that instead we will always come back to Your word, to Your literal words here, to see who You say You are.
I want to know You, I want to draw close to You. I want to discover the beating heart of Your desires and make them my own. You are inspiration, You are a guide, but I see You said above all, You are gentle. You are kind. You are merciful. You are humble. What does all this mean? Teach us, Jesus. Let us be Your disciples here and now, as eager and as confused as the twelve so many years ago. We have much to learn. So show us Your heart and help us to understand Your story.
We do need rest, Jesus. This world has beaten us down, built us up unfairly with one hand and torn us down subtly with the other. It seems there is nowhere safe for us, nowhere to rest. Even in Your church today among Your body of believers. I’m sorry for my part in that, LORD. Help us to find unity. But it seems that, though we struggle and we are weary, You are the only place for us to find rest.
I was afraid of these verses before, God. I didn’t want another yoke. I didn’t want something that would require service of me. I still don’t understand fully, so please reveal to me Your meaning. But I think now I know that a yoke is not intended to be a burden. A yoke is a mercy and it’s a guide. I do have a field to plow and how can I do that without Your yoke? I will just wear myself out if I do not yield to a burden created for me by the Creator. So I pray to submit and to yield and to rest.
I pray to know what true rest is. Not just rest for my body and my mind, but for my soul. I pray that my spirit is renewed in Your company, that I seek You out. I want to seek out Your gentle heart. May that be my purpose, to understand who You are and to sit at Your feet, learning and loving. I know You love us so much, but it’s still hard for me to picture. So show it to me in vivid color and practical example. I want to learn and to grow and to rest under Your guidance. And when I do need to work, help me to do it so I do not falter and strain and grow too weary.
Thank You, Jesus, that You do not turn anyone away. Your compassion and Your mercy are strong. You desire us to learn and to come. This is an invitation, oh, let us heed its call! Thank You for inviting us to come to You. Thank You for wanting our company and our devotion. You have mine, Jesus. I pray You have all of ours. I think You are a good friend, Jesus. Help me to be a good friend to You. Help me to listen. Teach me, teach all of us, to reflect Your gentle and lowly heart.
I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
