Today’s Reading:
Mt 11:28-30
“At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”
(Mt. 11:25-30, NKJV)
In this passage, Jesus is offering the kingdom of heaven to the simple, and to those who are interested. The wise and prudent were those who prided themselves on their great achievement and spiritual understanding and those who were self-sufficient (v. 25; Matt. 9:12). Jesus is the only one that has an exclusive relationship with God the Father, and He is the only way that leads to the Father (v. 27; Jn. 10:15; 14:6). He has offered Himself as the ‘touchstone’ for everything. Jesus is inviting all who labour and are heavily laden to come and take of His yoke and learn from Him, and He will give them rest.
Today, many of us are heavily burdened. We are all labouring and struggling under overloaded oppression, slavery, discomfort, and spiritually overwhelmed. The situation can be likened to the time ancient Israel revolted against King Rehoboam of Judah, son, and successor to Solomon. Rehoboam’s attitude can be likened to that of our rulers, our leaders and those in authority over us today. He used the power of his kingship to oppress, place the people under heavy subjection and servitude (1Kg 12), Forgetting that the best leaders are servants like our Lord Jesus Christ. He wrongly thought that the best rulership is to take advantage of the people under him. Our leaders today are selfishly using their power to forcefully get and steal whatever they wanted. That was how ancient Israel split into the Southern and the Northern kingdoms.
Whoever is in a position of authority should follow the wise advice of the elders to Jeroboam. If leaders and those in positions of authority genuinely serve the people under them, the people will want to serve them faithfully. It is better to invest in others than to lord it all over them. Jesus is inviting us ALL, who are struggling to find relief. All those wishing to know the Truth. All those who need hope and succour to move on in life and be able to cope with the future. All who are fighting to make it through the night. All who are bereaved, sorrowing, or bending under the weight of problems. ALL, regardless of age, creed, sex, race, colour. All who are weary, lonely, and are carrying heavy burdens. All the remnants that have survived the genocide. This call is to all who are exhausted, overwhelmed, overburdened and are experiencing suicidal thoughts. Come! and Jesus Christ will give you true rest.
With Jesus’ yoke, even though each believer is free from the curse of the Law, we are not to take on our own rules. But we are to be harness to Jesus and live our lives His way. But it must be noted that those who have not given their lives to Jesus Christ cannot partake of this rest He is offering.
OLUFUNMILAYO TITILOLA ADEKUSIBE
Prayer:
Father, thank you for our Lord Jesus Christ, who loved us and gave Himself for us. Thank you for the privilege, the joy, the excitement, and the pleasure of sharing life with and being yoked together with Christ, in Jesus name. And thank you for upholding me when I stumble, in Jesus name.
Father, these three things I asked: to see You more clearly, love You more dearly and to follow You more closely than before, in Jesus name.
By Your mercy, Father teaches me what taking on the yoke of Christ upon myself really means; and help me to shake off the treadmill of pressurised living, in Jesus name.
Father, use the situations in our nations to increase your kingdom, in Jesus name.
Father, take over the heavy burdens being placed on the people of this nation, the struggle for self-help that we seek, the struggles we face, and the messy situation we have created, let us experience Your peace as never before. Help us to trust You more than ever before, in Jesus name.
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