Finding true rest with Jesus
(From the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 11, verse 28-30)
Everywhere Jesus went, teaching and preaching and healing people, he met men, women, and children who liked what he said and were grateful for what he did. But some people didn't like Jesus. They thought they knew God better than Jesus did. They thought they knew the right way to live, and that Jesus had it all wrong. They wanted Jesus to go away.
One day Jesus spoke about them.
"Some of our religious leaders don't like me. They didn't like John the Baptist either, and now he is in jail because of that. These important men have all sorts of ideas about who is holy and who is not. They are sure that they know all of God's rules. But the strict rules they are living by keep some people - people who are sick, or disabled, or poor - away from our worship services and our neighborhoods. That isn't fair! That is not what God wants!"
Jesus went on. "These men must be really tired from having to be right all the time. And you must be exhausted from always having to paying attention to all these rules. It wears you down after a while if you are always worrying if you are in the 'in group' or not."
Jesus looked at all the people who were listening to him, both the ones who liked him and those who didn't. He loved them all. "Come to me," he told them. "All of you who are tired and feel like you've got the weight of the world on your shoulders – I will give you a chance to rest. Let me show you how God wants us all to live together. Learn from what I will teach you. I promise, I am not bossy and I won't lord it over you. I am gentle. You will find true rest with me – the kind of rest that leaves you content right down to the most secret place in you. I won't lay any heavy burdens on you. Living God's way with me will feel wonderful – light and free!"
Questions to think and pray about:
I wonder if you have ever felt like you've got a heavy burden to carry. What did you do?
I wonder if you know someone who is really, really tired from all the difficulties of his or her life. What could you do to help?
I wonder how Jesus works through you when you help others.
I wonder how Jesus works through others when they help you.
Have you ever had a really good rest? I wonder how being with Jesus could make you feel that way again?