Monday
I heard the voice of Jesus say, “Come unto Me and rest;
Lay down, O weary one, lay down your head upon my breast.”
I came to Jesus as I was, weary, worn, and sad;
I found in Him a resting place, and He has made me glad.
In the past five years which began with the Covid pandemic, the world has become less safe, and it seems humanity has become less humane. There’s a world-weariness of soul and a heaviness of heart. Christians have always turned at such times to Jesus for assurance, strength, and resilience. In the noise of social media and 24/7 news, we turn to the risen Lord and hear again the invitation, “Come unto me all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Jesus is not offering an escape from the reality of a broken world – but a place to refresh, renew, and go again.
Tuesday
I heard the voice of Jesus say, “Behold I freely give
the living water; thirsty one, stoop down and drink, and live.”
I came to Jesus, and I drank of that life-giving stream;
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived, and now I live in Him.
In recent years the phrase, “I can’t do this anymore”, has been the signal of exhaustion and emotional burnout, a confession we can’t go on like this. Jesus’ words are intended for such moments. Living water is revivifying and uninterrupted in supply. “My grace is sufficient” is the promise Paul heard when he hit the wall of demands too overwhelming to carry. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” is the same promise. In a parched world thirsty for hope, Jesus offers living water. Drink it, then become carriers and couriers of the Living Water.
Wednesday
I heard the voice of Jesus say, “I am this dark world's Light;”
Look unto Me, your morn shall rise, and all your day be bright.”
I looked to Jesus, and I found in Him my star, my sun;
and in that Light of life I'll walk till traveling days are done.
Jesus is the Light of the World. Any shining Christians do is with borrowed light, as reflectors of the glory of Jesus. These are strong words of hope and direction for life. If we rely on Jesus our star and sun, we will have light enough to walk, and renewable energy for each day’s discipleship. This verse, in fact the whole hymn, provides an important antidote to the creeping despair and exhausted passivity brought on by too much bad news. Not words of escape – instead, an urgent reminder where to find energy, fuel, hope and resilience to keep up with Jesus!
Thursday
Matt 11.28 “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
An invitation and a promise to folk who have had enough. Respite care is what enables those whose self-expenditure is unsustainable, and who need support, time and rest. Time spent in the presence of Jesus is never wasted. Rest is more than stopping doing what tires us. Take time for replenishment, to renew the sources of energy; listen again to the life we are leading, breathe deeply in the strong presence of the One who cares for us, and says – “I will give you rest.” Grace is always gift.
Friday.
Matt 11.29 “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.”
Rest is not empty time, it is stewardship of time. To learn of Jesus, to take his words to heart, to think deeply of all Jesus asks of us and offers us, that is to take on the yoke of His teaching. A yoke enables strength to be harnessed to purpose, and guides and directs energy towards fulfilling that purpose. Jesus later said, “If you love me you will keep my commands.” We spend our lives learning the teaching of Jesus, living our lives in Christ in response to knowing the life of Christ indwells us by the power of his Spirit. Discipleship is commitment to Christ-centred lifelong learning.
Saturday
Matt 11.29b “I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
No one understands us more thoroughly, no one looks on us with more compassion, and no one is more on our side, than Jesus. This is the best comment on these words: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4.15-16)
Sunday
Matt 11.30 “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
The paradox is a paradox of grace. In the service of Jesus a yoke isn’t an ill-fitting instrument of exploitation; the yoke of Jesus is easy, fitted to who we are, enabling us to grow into who God calls us to be. A light burden sounds like a contradiction in terms. But it depends who shares that burden, and who does the weight-bearing. Jesus’ invitation to us, to come to him and spend our lives with him in his service, comes with conditions and promises. The condition, “Take my yoke upon you.” The promises, "My yoke is easy, my burden is light, and you will find rest for your souls.”
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