He's There For You

10/08/24

The Message paraphrase renders Matthew 11:28-30 this way:
28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Life comes at us hard sometimes. We fret, fume, feel disappointed or defeated. Do we remember the invitation Jesus gives us? Just come to Him...tell Him our frustrations...and while we do, know that He is God and that He loves us. King David figured it out:
My lovingkindness and my fortress, My stronghold and my deliverer, My shield and He in whom I take refuge, (Psalm 144:2)

The next time life is hard, remember these words from Isaiah 30 -- 20 The Lord has given you bread of distress and water of oppression; He, your Teacher will no longer hide Himself, but your eyes will see your Teacher. 15 “In [m]repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your might.” 18 Therefore Yahweh waits with longing to be gracious to you, And therefore He is on high to have compassion on you. How blessed are all those who wait for Him.

Today's My Utmost for His Highest emphasizes this point:

Isn't it humiliating to be told that we must come to Jesus?

Think of all the things you won't come to the Lord about. If you want to know how spiritually real you are, test yourself with these words: “Come to me.” In every degree to which you are not real, you will argue rather than come; you will go through sorrow rather than come; you will do anything rather than present yourself, just as you are, to your Lord.

“Come to me.” When you hear these words, you know that a change must happen inside you before you will come. The Holy Spirit will show you what you have to do. He will show you that you must take an axe to the thing that is preventing you from getting through to the Lord. You will never get any further until you do. The Holy Spirit will locate the one unmovable thing in you, but he won't budge it unless you let him.

How often have you come to God with your requests and had the feeling that you'd achieved your goal, only to come away with nothing? And yet all the time, God has stood with outstretched hands, not only to take you but so that you will take him. Think of the invincible, unconquerable, untiring patience of Jesus as he says, “Come to me.”


Let me end these thoughts by inviting you to sing this prayer:

I am weak but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I'll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.

Thro' this world of toil and snares,
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.

Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

Walk with the King today and be a blessing.