Matthew 11:25-30 (The Message)
25-26 Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: “Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You’ve concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. Yes, Father, that’s the way you like to work.”
27 Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. “The Father has given me all these things to do and say. This is a unique Father-Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge. No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does. But I’m not keeping it to myself; I’m ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen.
28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? 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.”
I was recently at the mall and noticed an electrical outlet conveniently located at the bottom of a bench. I think this was so that people who happen to sit there can recharge their cell phones if they need to.
What do you do to recharge? Not your phone battery, but you? Remembering that we’re not machines and we don’t run on batteries.
Instead of recharge, the word restore comes to mind as we read in Psalm 23:3 that the Lord, “… restores my soul” (NIV 1984).
In Matthew 11, we read Jesus’ declaration about His relationship with the Father (see v. 27). Jesus goes on to share the invitation for us to find rest and life in Him (see verses 28-30).
Jesus invites us to get away with Him and we’ll recover our life (v. 28 – The Message).
I encourage you to read this passage of Scripture in different versions and see what Jesus causes to stand out to you. Perhaps you also want to prayerfully read Psalm 23 or Ephesians 3:14-21.
Let’s take time today to respond to Jesus’ invitation to Himself. Let’s bring any weariness, sadness, and questions to Him. Let’s learn from Him today. Let’s thank Him and rest in Him.
Perhaps you simply need to stop for a while. Perhaps you’re always on the go. Perhaps you need to give attention to Sabbath rest with Jesus today.
Or maybe there is something that Jesus is clearly leading you in, but you have been slow to listen to Him. Instead of trying to go it on your own, what could it look like today to walk with Jesus and work with Jesus and watch how He does it.
The Lord bless you!
Psalm 47
