Matthew 11:28-30, New International Version

“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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

As Christians, we should not be living according to performance. When you live your life to perform well, you are setting yourself up for disappointment and burnout. As Christians, we should be resting in the Word of God, in the truths of God’s word. Jesus tells us in Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV), “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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Jesus invites us to come to Him. Are you weary and worn out? Are you struggling to make it to the next day or even the next moment? Are you tired of trying to do things your own way or whatever the world tells you is the way to do things and getting nowhere? I urge you to accept the invitation of Jesus. “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

After He invites us to come to Him, He then says, “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.” What does it mean to take on Jesus’ yoke? Even Jesus had an authority figure He submitted to. That authority is our Father in heaven. When you surrender to God, our Father, things begin to change. When you begin to live your life according to the word of God, things begin to change. Look at the example Jesus gave. He was in the desert fasting for forty days and forty nights seeking God before He even began His earthly ministry. He sought the will of God that would bring unto us redemption and salvation. When Jesus began His ministry, He saw the burdens that were placed on the people. Many of them were manmade traditions that made it nearly impossible to keep as well as following the Law. It reached a point where the traditions had superseded God’s word and the people were more focused on tradition rather than God. These traditions led to a performance-based lifestyle. What traditions have we learned from the world that need to be unlearned and what do we need to learn from Jesus that will give us rest for our souls?

I want to encourage us to take time to read the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). In these books of the Bible, you will find the words of Jesus. You will learn the teachings of Jesus: to walk humbly with your God, to forgive or your Father in heaven doesn’t have to forgive you, to give to those who are in need…to love God and to love people. You realize that you don’t have to carry the burdens of life alone, but that there is one, Jesus, who will be there with you every step of the way. When you experience Him, you want to share Him with others! Though life won’t be easy, He makes life easier and as Jesus said, you will find rest for your soul.