I’ve a confession. I haven’t read my bible for over three weeks and haven’t spent some quiet time in prayer with God for a month. Oh, I’ve read some verses at church on a Sunday morning, I’ve listened to some sermons in the car on my way to work and I’ve ‘grabbed’ a quick prayer on some early morning walks with the dog but it isn’t the same as spending some time in quiet contemplation, prayer and reading God’s word.
If we’re honest, I don’t think I’d be the only one that finds it hard to put aside time for prayer and bible reading. Its not as if my time is spent frivolously on TV and computer games. Work, family, church activities, even helping out others can all be good and often necessary positive activities but all too often we can neglect our own spiritual lives – sometimes for the best of reasons!
Do you ever find your ‘To Do’ lists getting longer each day however hard you work at getting them ticked off? Do you ever find the burdens of life getting heavier and heavier?
Jesus’ words in Matthew 11 v28-30 are bible verses that we need to pay attention to especially if we’re feeling weary of life’s pressures:
“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.”
Jesus is confirming what the Hebrew bible says about the coming Messiah, that he will bring rest and peace. Jesus offers us rest, not just physical rest, but the rest for our souls. It’s a rest that goes beyond a temporary break from work; it’s a deep and lasting peace that only He can provide.
Our rest is found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s not in our own strength or in the things of this world.
A yoke was a wooden beam placed on the shoulders of oxen to help them pull a heavy load but a well known phrase of the time was the ‘Yoke of the Torah’ (The first five books of the Hebrew bible), which referred to the burden of obeying Gods law. The yoke of Christ is easy because it is founded on His grace. It is not a heavy burden of legalism or self-righteousness.
His yoke is not burdensome; it’s a yoke of grace, love, and guidance.
When we take on His yoke, we partner with Him in life’s journey, and He helps us bear our burdens.
We praise God for blessing us in Sheep Street with growth and his real presence in our midst as we reach out to the community of Devizes.
But this comes at a cost to those in the church, from our minister, to all those that take on extra activities. If you have the opportunity to help lighten their burdens please volunteer your help where you can so that we can fulfil Gods wishes in our community.
I’ll finish by quoting the same verses in Matthew from ‘The Message’:
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me.
Get away with me and you’ll 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’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Every Blessing, Ian