Come to Jesus
Matthew 11:28-30 TPT
28 Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to Me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. 29 Simply join your life with Mine. Learn My ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in Me. 30 For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.
Jesus doesn’t tell us when we are weary that He is too busy to deal with us, or go find someone else for help. He tells us to come to Him. Jesus said that in other places as well. Many times Jesus said, “Come after (follow) Me,” but only here does He say, “Come to Me.” In Exodus 33:14, God tells us, “And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Jesus said in Matthew 23:4 “For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.” Many circumstances in life pile burden upon burden on us, whether from others or just the situations we find ourselves in. In the Aramaic translation, this phrase is used, “I am your oasis.” I remember years ago there was an advertisement for Calgon bath bubbles. The ad showed this overworked, overburdened woman sinking into a hot bath with lots of beautiful bubbles floating and gently swirling all around her. It made you want to start running the water for a nice, hot bath. When you are overwhelmed and bone tired, Jesus is the One you want to run to. Pour out your heart and all the emotions, no matter what they may be, cry if you want to. He is there for you. Just know that He will talk with you and make Himself very present and real in your time of need. He wants you to come to Him. The King James translates verse 29 as “Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” It also could read “Bend your neck to My yoke.” The metaphor of a yoke is that it joins two animals to work as one. Plainly said, it isn’t just work or labor that is the focus here but coming into union with Jesus. The end of verse 29, “You will find refreshment and rest in Me,” translates in the Aramaic as “Come to Me and I will cheer (refresh) you. I am cheerful (refreshing) and humble in heart, and you will find cheer (refreshing) for your soul.” I love the repeating of the word “refreshing.” How many times in life have I needed “refreshing” that only the Lord could bring into my life. No one, nor anything else but Him could do that. Verse 30 reads, “For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.” Pleasant and easy to bear,” can also be translated as “kind” or “delightful.” Doesn’t that sound good? It feels like the Lord lifts heavy stones off of your beat emotions and weary mind bringing His soothing touch to you. So dear one, along with our verses for today, let’s add Psalm 55:22, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” Always know that He loves you so and is always there with His arms wide open just waiting for you.
What about you? Are there situations or people that are weighing heavy on you today? Come to Him and cast it all onto to His waiting heart. He will lift them and bring refreshing peace, rest, and even joy to you today. Have a restful day in Him.