"COME TO ME!"

In Matthew 11:28-30, Christ says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will
give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Our Savior invites us to come and receive rest from our burdens of sin and hurts and pains
caused by this sinful reality that grips our souls and weighs us down in fears, confusion, and
despair. By faith in Christ, we find rest. By faith we rest on His actions, trust in His
righteousness.

Jesus calls, “Settle your life in my love. Build your life on my truth. Come to me.”
There is absolutely nothing more calming to the soul, more refreshing to the spirit, more
encouraging to the mind than resting in Christ Jesus, our Savior. The believer who lives in a
deeply personal and sincere relationship with Jesus has arrived at one’s truest identity. We are
the sheep of His pasture. We are the light lit by His light. We are the ambassadors of our King
and Protector. We are the expressions of His creation and the objects of His love. We are the
product of His Spirit and the fruit of His presence. We belong to our God, we are His family, the
body of Christ, the Kingdom of our Creator/Redeemer.

How do you yoke yourself to Christ? Simply by the gift of faith produced by the Holy Spirit.

The analogy of yoking to Christ calls us to humbly submit to his truth and love while expressing
it as the fragrance of true life. “My burden is light,” Christ declares. “Love as I have loved you.”
The love of God in Christ brings me rest from every fear, every danger, from the burden of my
guilt and the oppressive nature of my flesh. Christ frees me to express the life of love He gave
me.

In this world we have trouble, there are many dangers and endless sufferings. We may be
laughed at, scorned, falsely accused, persecuted and labeled in horrific hurtful ways, but in Christ
we find the strength to stand strong and rely on the grace of God to see us through. His grace is
sufficient. Apart from Christ we are only dying until all is snuffed out and nothing is left to
celebrate. Yoked to Christ through faith we find a never-ending path of life and love. In Christ
we discover an endless source of treasures to celebrate.

In Christ, life has just begun. “Lay up treasures in Heaven where moth and rust do not destroy,
and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be
also.” (Matthew 6:20-21) “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on
things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1)

This is the Christ-centered life that is truly life. This is the hope of eternal life fulfilled. So “set
your mind on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with
Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in
glory.” (Colossians 3:2-40)