Find true & lasting rest by serving and submitting to your church.
Matthew 11:25-30 (NIV)
20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.
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25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Listen to passage & devotional:
Belgic Confession of Faith, Article 28: The Obligations of Church Members
We believe that
since this holy assembly and congregation
is the gathering of those who are saved
and there is no salvation apart from it,
no one ought to withdraw from it,
content to be by himself,
regardless of his status or condition.
But all people are obliged
to join and unite with it,
keeping the unity of the church
by submitting to its instruction and discipline,
by bending their necks under the yoke of Jesus Christ,
and by serving to build up one another,
according to the gifts God has given them
as members of each other
in the same body.
And to preserve this unity more effectively,
it is the duty of all believers,
according to God’s Word,
to separate themselves
from those who do not belong to the church,
in order to join this assembly
wherever God has established it,
even if civil authorities and royal decrees forbid
and death and physical punishment result.
And so,
all who withdraw from the church
or do not join it
act contrary to God’s ordinance.
Summary
Jesus is often portrayed as the ultimate example of acceptance and tolerance. So maybe you found it surprising in our opening verse today to read about Jesus denouncing those whom He had performed so many miracles for. The word that Matthew used here to describe Jesus' actions is translated elsewhere as mock, revile, insult, criticize, and even disgrace. These are not normally actions people associate with Jesus.
So what could have elicited such a strong reaction from Him? Matthew informs us that it was because so many who had witnessed Jesus' miracles "did not repent." After seeing first hand the power of the Son of God and hearing with their own ears Jesus preach of God's grace, they didn't change their thinking, which is what the word repent means.
This is the context that underlies Jesus' famous invitation to all those who are weary and burdened to come to Him and find the one thing people crave the most: rest. But the prescription Jesus gives for finding this coveted rest is surprising as well: it comes by "taking His yoke upon" yourself and "learning from Him."
Being yoked and learning aren't the words most people associate with rest. Perhaps this is why so many people - maybe even you - feel so worn out and tired all the time, because we're doing things so wrong trying to find rest. Here Jesus reminds you that when you truly repent - that is, change your thinking not just about sin, but also about life in general - and live the way your Creator designed you, You "will find [true & lasting] rest for your soul.
Dig Deeper
You're likely reading this a few days after Labor Day, which for most signals the end of the summer vacation season. Hopefully you were able to get away for awhile and find some good R&R (rest and relaxation). The question is, how long will it be before the crushing realities of school, harvest, increased meetings and weekly activities, and everything else that comes barreling at you in this busier time of year, sap whatever strength you regained from your 'relaxing' summer vacation?
So it ought to catch your attention that Jesus offers you true and lasting rest. You already know how difficult it is to find rest in life even though everybody seems to be looking for it, so it shouldn't surprise you that it comes in a way so different than you might expect.
Our Confession summarizes Jesus' teaching here by showing that the more you submit to the Church's teaching and instruction, bend your neck under the yoke of Christ, and serve others by building them up, the more you will experience this true rest and peace that Jesus offers.
As your Church begins another year of classes, Bible studies, and committee work, the most common excuse people will give is that they don't have the time or energy to participate or help out because they're too tired trying to keep up with their other endeavors.
But don't think that you'll find more rest by sitting these things out, because now you know that the opposite is true. The more you submit and serve your local church, the more true and lasting rest you'll experience.
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, whom we come to know as Christ reveals Him to us;
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray for the wisdom to listen to Jesus' teaching on how to find rest rather than what the world convinces you of;
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
Read the New Testament in a year! Today: 2 Corinthians 13
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