Knowing Him and Finding Rest
ICS Daily Devotions
Matthew 11:27-28 (NKJV) 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 heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Do you have difficulty sleeping and are constantly tired because you worry about uncertainty and stay awake thinking about things that weigh you down? If so, I have good news for you! Jesus can fulfil all our needs—financially, emotionally, physically and spiritually. We can rest in His love and find rest for our souls knowing He will not withhold anything good from us, since God has given us His Son.
John 1:17-18 (NKJV) For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
In the Old Testament, only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies, where God’s presence was. God’s holiness and men’s sinfulness meant they couldn’t meet physically. The law came through Moses to teach sinful men what sin is and what it takes to approach God: the shedding of an unblemished lamb’s blood to cover men’s sin. The Mosaic Covenant is conditional in that it requires the Jews to be obedient so blessings would come to their lives; any violation would bring the curses of the law. All the observances found in the Pentateuch are a heavy burden for the Jews, but they were a way to push the Jews and mankind to search for God’s grace. God knew no one could use the law to stand right before Him.
Knowing God is not difficult. God came through Jesus, who was fully man and fully God. He walked among us. He gave us His Word so we could know Him. Jesus’ life and ministry revealed God’s character to us. Jesus came as the Messiah, fulfilling the unconditional Abrahamic Covenant. Through this covenant, all the families of the earth will be blessed by being made righteous through the blood of Jesus Christ. We can see God in Jesus in bodily form during His ministry on earth. Jesus is gracious, kind, merciful, forgiving, gentle, and full of love for sinners. He came to point the way back to the Heavenly Father through His shed blood on the cross. He came to lay down His life for us. He was made sin for us and showed us that salvation comes by God’s grace. It is God’s desire that none shall perish, but all will come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Jesus invites us to “come”! The first thing God wants us to resolve is our relationship with Him. The rest of our needs will be resolved once our relationship with Him is established.
Reflection: In what ways do you know God personally, rather than merely knowing facts about Him? How will you respond to His invitation to “come” today?
Sermon Series: REST
