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I hope that you are well.  Last Sunday my sermon text included these familiar words of Jesus: “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, for 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.”  Mt. 11:28-30 I hope that you can say, “It is well with my soul.”  Jesus is inviting people to trust in Him for salvation instead of attempting to fulfill the demands of the law.  Jesus is offering soul rest through His work done on the cross.  His words, “come to me” are an invitation to a new life!  The life we gain in Jesus brings freedom, hope, relationship and purpose!  I invite you today to praise Jesus and rejoice in all that He gives to those who respond to His invitation.

 

                I am also intrigued by Jesus’ instruction to take His yoke upon ourselves.  In particular, the phrase “learn from me” intrigues me this morning.  Am I to learn more of Jesus’ character as I “come to Him”?  Are we to learn how to be gentle and humble in our hearts as we meditate on and mimic the ways of Jesus?  Is Jesus teaching that in being yoked with Him, one in purpose and one in relationship, we will find soul rest? 

 

                I recently spent time with my father in law helping to replace a patio.  He is 80 years old, but very active.  I offered my assistance simply to reduce the effort required on his behalf.  I drove an hour to get there and gained instruction on what we were trying to do and also in how to do it.  I watched and listened as my father in law demonstrated and instructed and then I took over.  Of course, he was still working nearby and kept an eye on my work advising as needed.  Together, we accomplished the work and I learned from his example and instruction.    

 

                The answer, in my opinion, to the above questions is “yes”. Intentionally turn to Jesus today and offer to walk alongside him and learn His ways.  The soul rest He offers does not mean we escape difficult moments in this world, but does mean that we can rest in Jesus’ victory.