Dan Czaplewski posted on July 05, 2008 14:44
Some of the most profound words of Jesus that are found in the entire Scripture are in Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest.” The meaning of those words for you are that Jesus promises you rest.
People ask me if I’m getting some time to rest this summer. Well, my schedule is different, but really no less busy this summer than it was during the school year. I am looking forward to getting away a few days at the end of the month, but I know that I will have a pile of mail, e-mail, and phone messages waiting for me when I get back. So, I am getting some rest this summer, but no more than I get any other time of the year.
Yet, I don’t think that the rest that Christ gives is found in getting away or in taking a break. That rest is found, oddly enough, in being Christ’s disciple. The context of that promise in Matthew 11 is Jesus calling His followers to be disciples.
We find rest in being Christ’s disciple. The key word in that sentence is “being.” We always want to make discipleship about doing and Jesus says BE my disciple. When we think of discipleship, too often we ask, “what do I need to do; what do I need to know; where do I start?”
God has an answer for our questions. What do we need to do? God says, “you don’t because I’ve done it all.” What to we need to know? God says, “it isn’t what you need to know, but who you need to know. Know me and my love in Christ.” Where do we need to start? God says, “start right where you are because that’s where I am to meet you.”
I pray that you find rest in these words. I know that you will find rest in being Christ’s disciple.