Racing or resting

Racing or resting

Matthew 11:28-30

Pastor Miles

Memorial Day Weekend 5/24/15

"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." (‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28-30‬ NIV)

1. "Come to me."

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬ NIV)

Jesus tells us to come to Him for rest.

When I'm weary, what do I turn to? Where do I go to for relief?

Do we find real rest in any of these places? It provides temporary distraction but never real rest.

Jesus knows us, all that we are going through, our fears, and our needs. 

2. "Take my yoke upon you."

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." (‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭29-30‬ NIV)

Jesus is asking us to surrender to Him.

Jesus is offering us a relationship not a religion.

Jesus, the master carpenter, is able to shape our yoke, to make it bearable for us. He doesn't give us more than we can handle. His yoke is light because it fits us.

We are responsible for the pace in life that we set.

Are we overburdening ourselves by doing more than we can handle?

We do not need to earn God's approval or merit.

3. "Learn from Me."

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." (‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭29-30‬ NIV)

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble." (‭James‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬ NIV)

Are we too proud to turn to Jesus? To accept His offer of rest for our souls?

Jesus is able to meet our most basic needs and can fill the holes in our lives.

Are we wearing ourselves out by seeking significance, security, and satisfaction elsewhere apart from Jesus?

Jesus teaches us to rest in His presence.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭38-39‬ NIV)

Nothing can separate us from Christ.

If only we would submit to Him, put on His yoke, and follow in His footsteps.

Jesus is gentle and humble of heart.

We need to learn to rest in Him.