IT'S A GREAT OFFER

Come unto Me, all who are weary
and heavy-laden, 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
Matthew 11:28-39

Recently, a friend of mine at my eye doctor's office was sharing with me regarding her recent vacation with her children to Hawaii. I told her the only thing there I would ever want to visit is Pearl Harbor. She began telling me how inspiring everything was from displays to visiting a submarine, ship and of course the Arizona monument. I told her that I was almost three years old when the attack on Pearl Harbor took place. I still remember at a very young age the gloom and doom as well as panic that set in all around me. In those days, we hadn't experienced school shootings, 9/11, terror attacks, political conflict, etc. As a result, that day was a real shaker-upper.

Today, there really isn't much we aren't exposed to as far as negative events are concerned. I feel for very young children who pick up on the fright they see in the adults in their lives with no explanation or comfort. Because of today's cultural and political climate, there isn't much that surprises us, but for me back then, hearing about Peal Harbor was horrible not just for children, but adults alike.

I've been looking today at our church prayer list. I've never seen such a variety of concerns and the list is quite lengthy. There are problems with cancer, dialysis, joint replacements, folks in nursing homes, broken bones, chemo treatments, eye surgeries, brain tumor, and then there is the missionary list with some of them facing real difficulties with illness or government pressures where they are located. 

Even that list doesn't cover the everyday things friends and fellow Christians are facing in their lives. I'm thinking of couples either struggling with their marriages or with children who are breaking their hearts. Some folks are facing financial difficulties or threats of job loss. Many senior citizens who live alone face insecurities and loneliness on an everyday basis. There are school pressures that can be nerve-wracking for students. School also means athletic programs so there is a pressure to perform well on the field or gym. For some students, they may not even be able to attend school right now putting parents in some difficult positions. Top all that with the virus scaring folks, some living in panic and well, for all of us there's nothing worth watching the news.

With all we face, what a comfort the above verses are from the invitation Jesus gives for us to draw near, to accept His comfort and understanding and with His promise to give us the rest we so desperately need. I love His invitation to become yoked up with Him. Yokes in the Bible were used by farmers to hitch a team together to pull plows or whatever needed. The oxen had to work in tandem except when a younger, more inexperienced ox was hooked up with an experienced one. The experienced ox would pull a little extra when the other ox tired out. The yoke required a new ox to go in the same direction with the older one.

Jesus invites you and me to walk in tandem with Him, following where He goes, learning from Him moment by moment. When we become resistant and want to go our own way, Jesus who is our leader and trainer keeps us in step with Him. Straining against His leadership can create problems for us He doesn't intend. We can make the Christian life a very difficult one if we choose to do our own thing and refuse to be teachable; OR we can walk together in step with Jesus. For we Christians, the choice should be obvious.

In our process with Jesus, He has special things to offer us. Recognizing we often carry heavy loads, He wants to give us rest. He offers His gentleness and easing of our burdens. His strength and encouragement are always available. We tend to just want to “plow” on alone, resisting all the benefits God offers to us in times of hardship and difficulty. How foolish of us to keep thinking, “I can handle this.”

Jesus invites...”Come unto me, ALL...” He offers His rest, gentleness and peace no matter the difficulty we face. The problem is that we can resist His wonderful offer and at times may foolishly do just that. God wants to be our burden bearer and comfort. This is an invitation we can't pass up.

Thank You Father for being the Sovereign God You are. You see into our circumstances beyond what we can know. Despite the severity of our difficulties, You always stand ready to be our comfort. May we take advantage of of that comfort. In Jesus' name....Amen