Come to me all 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
Dear Lord Jesus,
I praise You for who You are. You are merciful, gracious, and loving. You saved me from my sins, and You gifted me with my faith to believe in the gospel. My repentance and faith were not of my own doing, but a gift from above. (Ephesians 2:8-9). For I am sure of this: I couldn't have ever repented on my own strength or believed on my own merit, but only by Your grace. "The greatest act of mercy God performs is giving the gift of faith." When I was weary and burdened, You had mercy on me and drew me to Your Word. It was the work of the Holy Spirit that carried salvation to me through Your Word. And by Your grace, I responded with childlike faith in Jesus. So faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the Word of God (Romans 10:17).
I praise You for who You are. You are not strict or harsh with me. You are not some taskmaster in the sky who gives me heavy burdens or demands difficult things from me. Rather, You are the Creator of heaven and earth who is patient and kind. You are gentle and humble in heart. Your yoke is easy and Your burden is light. And it’s only in You that I find rest for my soul. Come to me all 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
This verse is a beautiful gospel invitation to all those who are weary and burdened by their sins and desire to be saved from them. The gospel is for all those who yearn to be freed from the heavy yoke of iniquity and the endless, vain striving in self-sufficiency. Jesus extends His invitation to all those who labor and are heavy-laden; those who are crushed under the Law and working for salvation; those who are wounded emotionally, spiritually, or physically. Like a bruised reed or a smoldering wick, Jesus invites all those who are weak and broken to come to Him. To the world, bruised reeds and smoldering wicks have no power, purpose, or importance. They are often overlooked, marginalized, or despised. But these are exactly the ones whom Jesus calls, and He offers a shalom for our restlessness. a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, (Matthew 12:20). Jesus has compassion for the bruised reed, for He was bruised for our iniquities (Isaiah 53:5). On the cross, Jesus was bruised on the behalf of those bruised by their own sins. He was sent into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. (Luke 5:32). He was sent to bind up the brokenhearted and proclaim liberty to the captives, (Isaiah 61:1). Jesus said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick” (Matthew 9:12).
The gospel can only be received with a humble heart that recognizes its own sinfulness and need of a Savior. Jesus says, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3). Humility is key in receiving Jesus, and it’s only by God’s grace that we are humbled to receive Him through child-like faith. Child-like faith does not mean childish or immature, but trustful, teachable, and obedient.
The gospel is an open invitation to all who are bruised, smoldering, weary, and burdened. Jesus tells us to come just as we are, but He doesn't intend to leave us that way. Jesus didn't come to affirm us in our sinful state and accept us just the way we are. Rather, He came to save us from our sins, call us to repentance, and transform our hearts and minds to live our lives for Him, the One who died for us. It's the invitation of all invitations, and I am so moved that by His grace, I accepted.
Lord Jesus, You died on the cross for my sins and rose again that I may find eternal life in You. I was once weary and burdened by my sins, but You had mercy on me. By Your grace, You granted me repentance, drew me to Your Word, and gifted me with my faith to believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I praise You for saving me from my sins and inviting me into Your eternal rest. It’s only from a place of stability and rest that power can flow. Jesus, it’s only in You that I find my joy and strength.
I praise You for who You are. You are gentle and humble in heart. I pray that You help me be gentle and humble in heart, too.
All glory belongs to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ Name I pray amen.
The gospel is open to all; the most respectable sinner has no more claim on it than the worst. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of who I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life (1 Timothy 1:15-16).
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. John 6:35-37
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and one can snatch them out of my hand. John 10:28
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4