#TuesdayTruth Matthew 11:28-30
Come To Me
Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
By Chris Wills
If you have been a Jesus follower for any period of time then you are most likely very familiar with Matthew 11:28-30. This is one of those verses where Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase really hits the mark.
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you will recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you will learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11
This is an invitation for all who are tired, stressed, feel like they don’t have enough hours in the day, reaching for another cup of coffee to make it through. Corrie Ten Boom says it like this “if the devil can’t make you sin, he’ll make you busy.” Hurry is not just a disordered overwhelmed schedule, but a disordered life. In my generation, Sundays were a day of rest; there were actual Blue Laws that kept stores shut down. Sadly, it has now become another day of striving and producing. The point being that a hurried life of speed has become the new normal in the Western world and it’s not what Jesus ever wants for us.
If you read the four gospels one thing that you pick up on is that Jesus was rarely in a hurry! Even when Jesus got word that one of his closest friends, Lazarus, was REALLY sick, about to die sick, he stayed where he was for two more days. I know, I know….but that’s Jesus. However, this is not just an outlier way for him. He was busy, and interrupted all the time. Yet he never comes off as agitated, annoyed, or in a hurry (with his followers). I am so struck by how he would never let anyone or anything rush him into the next moment.
To handle the day-to-day he had disciplines that we would be wise to adapt. He got up early and went to a quiet place to be with his Father. Sometimes he would go overnight to get away from the crowds and be with God. We even read of him sleeping in and the disciples had to wake him up! He spent time around the table over meals where in-depth conversations could take place. He practiced Sabbath on a weekly basis…every single week! He was a minimalist before being so was cool.
Jesus knows that the most restful gift he can give the tired is a new way to carry life. There is no escaping the pain of life. There is an emotional and spiritual weight to life. So instead of offering an escape, he offered a piece of equipment. His yoke, which will develop in us a balance and a way of carrying life. And even better, he is at our side, shoulder to shoulder. Jesus does the heavy lifting at his pace. He will be slow, unhurried and very present to the moment. With that partnership comes love, joy, and peace regardless of the pain or circumstances we find ourselves in. If I want to experience the life of Jesus, I have to adopt the lifestyle of Jesus. May we continue to encourage one another in His ways!