Matthew 11:28-30
[Jesus said] “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 because 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.”
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank you for giving us these words to remind us that when the world seems to be burning down around us, you are there. It is easy to get sucked into all the turmoil in our county and worldwide and lose focus on what matters—you. You tell us to come and bring all our cares and concerns to you because you will give us rest. The world is Satan’s distractor away from the comfort you provide for us. The world can crumble into the ocean, burn all its cities to the ground, and topple its governments, but your love still remains for me. No one can take this from me.
You demonstrated your love for me before I was born. I was born with the sin handed down from my parents from Adam, and it is that sin that makes me hostile towards you. My sin causes my conscience to be troubled, leaving me with all the guilt for what I have done. You came because of our sin and shame; you suffered the punishment meant for me and all people, taking the world’s sin and assuming it for yourself; you carried it to a custom-made yoke for you—the cross.
You tell us to learn from you. You came here to love us who were unlovable, not to establish an earthly kingdom but a heavenly kingdom. Like you, the earth is not our home; let the world have it. Instead, create and sustain our faith through your Spirit that we know you have lifted off and forgiven our load of sin; we have salvation, eternal life, and a heavenly home.
We may not be able to stop the world from destroying what you made, but we can share our hope in you with others. So they, too, will no longer worry about this world but focus on the rest that comes from you. Train and send new workers to go out and share the good news of your salvation with the world. Amen.
Written through Pastor Roger Emmons
“Take the world but give me Jesus! All its joys are but a name. But his love abides forever through eternal years the same. Oh, the height and depth of mercy; Oh, the length and breadth of love! Oh, the fullness of redemption, Pledge of endless life above.” CW, 355, Fanny J. Crosby.