ICS Daily Devotions
Finding True Rest
Matthew 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you 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.”
As Christians, we can either be yoked to this world, whereby we will be pierced with all kinds of sorrow because we have sold ourselves out for money and position, or be yoked with Jesus. The Bible says that we cannot serve two masters—God and money, because we will hate one and love the other.
The rich young ruler is one such example. Despite lots of riches, he was empty and unfulfilled. He sold his soul to be rich and carried lots of burdens in life yet could not find rest. On the other hand, we can learn from Jesus. Because He is 100% man and God, He can show us the way to find true rest. Jesus’ trust was fully in the Father. He came to do the Father’s will and not His own, and He was meek and humble in heart to know that He could do nothing apart from God.
We need to have a desire to do the will of the Father by seeking and constantly being yoked with Jesus. Once we know that we are in His will, it means He’ll settle whatever circumstance that we face for us, and we can rest in Him—find rest for our soul, which is in our mind and emotion.
When we choose to be yoked with Jesus and learn from Him, the yoke is easy and the burden is light. Being yoked with God also reminds us that we are in a covenant with Him and all that He has belong to us. We need to have childlike faith and simply trust in Him and not let the world’s concerns block our faith in Him. When we are yoked with Him and consecrate out lives to Him, we are walking in line with His will for us, and He hears our prayer.
When we learn from Jesus who came to magnify the glory of God, we also learn to live a life of giving because of love. Giving out of love shows the attitude of our heart. Through the giving of our tithe and free-will offering as a form of worship, we are declaring that our trust and confidence is in God and not in mammon.
Sermon Series: Finding True Rest
