Matthew 11:28

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“Come to Me, all you who labor (kopiao: toil, grow weary, tired, exhausted – as with toil or burdens or grief) and are heavy-laden (phortizo: burdened upon, loaded down), and I will give you rest (anapauo: refresh, to cause or permit one to cease from any movement or labor in order to recover and collect his strength; to keep quiet, of calm and patient expectation).”

SUMMARY

Come to me all who have become exhausted, weary and loaded down with burdens. I will give you refreshing in order to collect your strength.

MEDITATION

As I hear Christians often speak of all they “do” on behalf of Christianity, I wonder how much of it all is really even necessary. We’ve been led to believe that our following of Christ can somehow be modeled after how we labor in the natural. Yes, there is much to tend to – spiritual growth, serving the poor, caring for one’s family, interacting with the Body of Christ and so forth. That being said, these should not be exhausting to the point of constant weariness, spiritual or otherwise. I remember vividly the times I’d brag as a youth pastor of all I was doing, all “our” youth were doing, all our church was doing. Efforts were always being made to promote all that we were always “doing”. We were always all tired and somehow proud of it because it gave some unhealthy sense of accomplishment. 

Burdens abound within our constant attempts to be found pleasing to God equally as much as with our earthly ventures, perhaps even more. The Christ-life is meant to be a joyful one, not a begrudging and laborious yoke. So today, shake off your burdens and rest. Rest in the arms of your Saviour. Remember, He has invited you.