DEVOTION – DAY 461

Matthew 11:28-29 “Find Rest In Jesus”

Matthew 11:28-29 “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.”

In ancient times when Jesus lived, the Jews were heavily burdened by many traditions and requirements set by their religious leaders. This was because they had interpreted strictly the Law that God had given to Moses for the people to follow. In addition, the religious leaders had added substantially to the Law further burdening the people. In the above verses, Jesus was inviting the people to follow Him and His teachings instead of blindly following the numerous religious requirements of their religious leaders. Jesus promised that for those who follow His teachings, they would find rest for their souls. He promised that His teachings would not be burdensome but would be freeing instead. 

Jesus is also calling us to come to Him when we are weary and burdened. Today, many people are feeling the pressure of consumerism and materialism. People are always trying to buy the latest handphones, bigger apartments, nicer cars, designer handbags. They want to send their children to the best schools and colleges. All this require money and so they find themselves always competing and trying to get ahead. In the process, people have less time for their families, they spend less time seeking God. They feel stressed out. 

A man wanted his family to have the best of everything. He worked hard and for a while, everything was working well. Then, his business suffered and his financial difficulties caused a strain on his relationship with his wife. They quarreled often and they were not walking closely with God. They tried to handle their relationship issues on their own. In the end, the marriage failed and they divorced. The man became depressed and at this low point in his life, someone pointed him back to God. He surrendered his troubled life to the Lord. He found rest in the Lord. He realized that he had been burdened with unreasonable expectations that he had placed upon himself. He had been building treasures on earth that did not last. God used this man’s failures to cause this man to seek Him.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for offering to give us rest and to be yoked with you. Thank you for showing us that we should seek you first above everything else. Please help us to remain yoked with you always. We humbly pray in the powerful name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Questions

  1. Are you tired and burdened with many worries and troubles? Share.
  2. How have you been trying to cope with these worries and troubles? 
  3. Have you sought the Lord in prayer and ask Him for His help?
  4. Have you asked to be yoked to Him instead of being yoked to the world’s pressures and desires? Share.