Matthew 11 – October 11

Religion and trying to please God is hard work…. Jesus said “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Jesus gave us the way we should live our life in verse 29: “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.” He calls us to follow His lead to find rest for our souls… what is His lead? He says He is gentle and lowly in heart. In other words, Jesus’ focus was to have a gentle, lowly heart so He could follow the leadership of the Father in His life. Just like an oxen led by a yoke on its neck, Jesus did what He saw the Father do and say what the Father said. He asks us to partner with Him and take the same yoke upon our neck. How do we live our life in His yoke? …With gentleness and lowliness. As Matthew 5:3 says, we are blessed with the entire kingdom when we become poor in spirit. Who is the greatest in the kingdom? …Whoever humbles himself as a child (Matt 18:4). There is no pressure on us to perform; we just need to learn to let Him live through us as we learn to trust Him. 

---