Come Unto Me

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy 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. (Matthew 11:28-30 ESV). Today’s devotional might be a little difficult for some to read. I don’t desire it to be so; however, I know that our traditions and embedded beliefs often make it difficult to hear the Scripture. There are so many proverbs we have come to believe through the years. Sometimes we have even attributed them to the Scripture. You’ve heard them before. One of my favorites is “God helps those who help themselves.” I have heard that one quoted many times. It was wrong the first time I heard it, and continues to be wrong today. God does want our participation in His work. Of that we may be certain. However, the prerequisite for God helping us is not anything we may do (cf. Ephesians 2:8-10). God’s grace is simply not dependent on anything we do. But, I have diverged a bit. The proverb that is both dangerous and destructive is another one that is very common among Christians. It usually is quoted something like: “God will never give you more than you can handle.” Well, let me know how that’s working for you! I know that sounds like the ranting of a bitter, angry old man who hates his station in life and the trials that he has faced. Actually, it is quite the opposite. I am a very happy old man, who has faced some interesting challenges. They all broke me in some way or another. However, what I discovered in the breaking was a God who loves me so much that He came in and carried my load. He exchanged my impossible burden for one that was manageable and even light. These trials that seemed to swamp me in the flood of pain and difficulty, threatening to overwhelm me brought me a great gift. When I recognized that gift, I also recognized an incredible truth. God is not interested in helping me make it. In fact, his desire is that I die. Oh, I’m not talking about the death that is a part of the judgment. Jesus has already taken care of that in the Cross. I’m talking about that death that a grain of wheat experiences when it is planted into the ground so that it might sprout bringing forth an incredible harvest. I’m talking about that death that allows me to experience the glorious victory that awaits me in Christ. I’m talking about that death that gives me the depth to walk beside others who have yet to find their real strength is in their weakness. Like the Apostle Paul, I am grateful to have found the truth that His grace is sufficient! How about you? Are you still trudging through life? Well, Jesus said, “Come unto Me!”