Come to Him

OPENING PRAYER:

Thank you Lord for your faithfulness, and your timely interventions in my life. These things fill me with hope and I praise you for them.

READ: Matthew 11:25-30

The Father Revealed in the Son

25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

REFLECT:

God’s pleasure in Jesus at his baptism came before he’d done anything: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased’ (Mark 1:11). Give thanks that you don’t have to perform to receive God’s love.

Jesus condemned those who took his miracles but not his message. He rebuked the opinion-shapers of his generation for not grasping his welcome for the lost and broken (vs 16–24). But, here, he gives thanks for the ordinary people who have responded. Marvel for a moment that we get to be ‘partakers of the divine nature’ (2 Peter 1:4, ESV) through relationship with Jesus and his Father (vs 25–27; 1 Corinthians 1:27-31).

As we’ll see tomorrow, the religious Jews demanded stern obedience to the Law. They had hundreds of nit-picking rules to prevent people from getting close to breaking the Law given by God to Moses. The focus was on outward performance to gain approval. We can live our lives like that too, but what happens when we can’t perform? Does our self- worth crash? Better to live out of relationship with ‘gentle and humble’ Jesus (vs 28–30). What motivates your life? Fear of failure? God’s love?

APPLY:

Close your eyes and imagine Jesus saying the words of verses 28-29 to you. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest….”

CLOSING PRAYER:

You call me to faithful discipleship Heavenly Father, to obedience and the acceptance of responsibility. I come to you, humble and loving teacher. Make me what you want me to be.

WORSHIP:

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