Got Rest?

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28

I woke up thinking about this verse today. Isn't it interesting how we can take the simple and make it complex and unobtainable?

Here is how my mind works: first comes the exegesis; take it apart in the Greek.  Parse it and look for interesting grammatical constructions. Feel satisfied with that process. Not done: application.

Have you ever heard a sermon about this verse? Many center on the salvation experience: “Oh sinner, come to Jesus and he will free you from your sin and give you rest.” Or maybe it explains how this verse speaks of a future rest. Someday, not on this earth we will experience the rest of God. Both are partially true.

What I heard this morning is the right now of this verse. Jesus wants to do this right now. He wants to do it everyday.

How many times am I weighed down with something or someone and I walk alone? Like a stubborn toddler I say, "I do it myself." I press on moaning and groaning. I may complain about the rough life and heavy load. Everything but the present application of this verse: Come to me. Come to me right now. Come for rest.

Are you worn out? Is fatigue a word that describes your life? Do you feel like giving up? Do you wish your weariness was physical? Is there not enough sleep to fix what shadows your life?

Are you carrying a backbreaking load: guilt, regret, hopelessness, failure, fear? This thing on your back: maybe you can't even see it or name it.

Bills to pay, work to do, people to deal with, mountains to climb. The noise rises, it starts to spin; fade to black. Crushing, numbing load.

Or: Come to me. Now. Simple. No exegesis needed. Just do.

Come to me - rest.

It goes on: learn of me and take my yoke. Learn so we know. Learn the new way. Replace my way with his. And his yoke: it's easy and light.

Simple. Note to self: do it today; do it now. Do it tomorrow.

Philip