Thursday, March 9, 2023
Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly 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, CSB
Lay Your Burdens Down
Jesus’ call to come to Him was for everyone. The call to come and lay down your burdens appeals to every person alive. We all are weighed down by the burdens in our lives and in the world. Jesus calls all mankind to come to Him, follow Him, and lay or burdens down.
For those who do not know Christ, as well as for Christians, the burden of the sins we commit are heavy. As Christians, when we sin we know we can go to Christ but for those who don’t know Him personally, they may feel complete hopelessness. How could they hope without the knowledge of Christ? If they hope at all they are hoping in something completely futile.
Jesus directed His call to those who were burdened because He knew that we cannot live in our own power. He called those who sensed they must come to Him to relieve their need instead of living in self-sufficiency. This call is for those who have taken burdens on themselves as well as for those who carry burdens that others have put upon them. If you have ever carried a burden and had it relieved then you know the instant relief and peace that comes from laying it down. Jesus wants to do this for us. We were never meant to carry our burdens but as Christians we are meant to take to our Lord and Savior who carries them and has all the answers for them we need. Most of us are not very good at doing this until we absolutely cannot carry it anymore.
As people who have experienced the saving grace of Jesus Christ, we can tell them about this amazing grace and freedom of laying down that yoke and taking up the yoke of Christ. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. His yoke provides healing and growth. His yoke is the way to everlasting life.
As you consider your one, bring others in to help you. There is strength in numbers. Find three or four people with whom you can pray and journey in your quest to find that one with whom God’s Spirit wants you to share His love. You may be surprised how the strength of community not only can help build your faith but can make it easier to find people to bring to Jesus.
Lord, this world is filled with burdens. I know ___________________ experiences the reality of suffering in a broken, sinful world. People look to everything but Jesus to find hope and peace, and I know _________________is no exception. He/she runs to things other than You to relieve the pain of life and achieve some sense of comfort. Father, I know You are the only one who can provide true rest. Cause _____________________ to recognize the futility of looking to anything in this world for the rest he/she seeks and let this reality to drive him/her to You in repentance and saving faith.
