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NIV is used unless otherwise noted.



Come: Rest


“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” 
Matthew 11:28

 
Ladies—got your slickers on and your nets mended? How’s the fishing? How about those fish? My, they are slippery, with a will of their own, eager to go their own way. At least, that’s what my husband found his first crack at fly fishing. In an effort to get a photo of his one and only catch before releasing it back, that beautiful, shimmering-green mountain trout wiggled out of his hands three times.

A lot like the folks you are fishing for, you could say. At first they have no intention of lining up their will with the will of Jesus. They cannot see Him for the rush of the mountain streams.

And you, you have to put self aside so they will always see Jesus. You have to take step after step of living like Him, always pointing to the truth of the cross. No wonder Jesus calls you weary and burdened and in need of rest. He knew He had to get away from the press of the crowds, and so did His disciples. More than once He urged them to join Him in a quiet spot: “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest” (Mark 6:31). Yes, alone, with Him, there is rest.

But there also is rest in the midst of the madding crowd. Jesus did not intend that His disciples withdraw from the world. The very next words He spoke beckoned them into His yoke: “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 11:29-30). How strange! Yokes are for work animals, plowing the field.

Everyone in that farming society knew that Jesus was talking about a double yoke, for instance two oxen side-by-side. More often than not the young ox would be paired with the trained and would learn by following the tugs on the yoke by the mature.

It’s that easy—get in the yoke with Jesus and your soul will find rest right there, in connection with His humble, gentle heart. And as you respond to His gentle tugs on the yoke, you will find He takes you easily where He would have you go. You see, the yoke He’s selected for you is suited for you and no one else.

Come then this year ladies—come as Jesus beckons, to quiet places and the ease of His yoke.    

Nancy P

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