“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28 NIV
Everyone enjoys receiving gifts, even if they might not be as enthusiastic about giving them. However, we don’t treat all gifts the same. For example, when we receive gifts we truly love, we tend to use and cherish them frequently. On the other hand, we may neglect or even give away those gifts we are less fond of. In Matthew 11:28, God offers us a precious gift that we all desire: rest. Unfortunately, not everyone treats this gift with the value and appreciation it deserves.
This verse is often interpreted as an invitation for non-believers to find rest in God. However, I sense that God also wants us to reflect on this verse in the context of our relationship with Him and our attitude toward His offerings. When God promises rest to those who come to Him, it’s important to understand that receiving this rest is not automatic. It’s one thing to have an offer of rest; it’s another to truly accept and experience it. Many believers respond to the invitation to come to Christ, but the reality of experiencing the rest He offers is not always evident in their lives.
This rest, which Jesus freely extends, is often left unclaimed by those who have accepted the invitation to follow Him. They may have received forgiveness of sins and the lifting of burdens yet remain restless. They still struggle with the same challenges they should have overcome through Christ. These burdens, which should no longer have power over them, continue to hinder their experience of the full freedom that Christ has made available.
This ongoing struggle often results from not fully accepting or embracing the rest that Christ offers. Some believers treat this gift of rest with indifference, much like they would treat a gift they don’t particularly care for. When we see fellow believers, who should be resting in Christ, constantly striving and exhausting themselves, it’s worth considering whether they have truly accepted the rest that Jesus provides.
Jesus faithfully offers rest to everyone who comes to Him, and His words are trustworthy. However, the experience of this rest depends on our attitude toward it. Have we truly embraced the fullness of what Christ offers? Or are we limiting our experience of His rest through our own actions or inaction?
Now the promise of entering into God’s rest is still for us today. So we must be extremely careful to ensure that we all embrace the fullness of that promise and not fail to experience it.
Hebrews 4:1 TPT
God’s offer of rest is still available to anyone willing to receive it. Whether the burdened sinner or anyone who has already come to Christ but has yet to fully experience His rest. Unfortunately, many of us get so caught up in the busyness of life. We’re chasing after things that are not part of God’s promise, and we neglect the rest Jesus offers.
Today’s message is a reminder to all of us: the rest that Christ wants to give is available right now. Are you yet to come to Christ? The opportunity is still available today. Are you a restless believer? The promise is still for you today. We must be diligent in embracing the fullness of Christ’s rest and not try to achieve it on our own.
In conclusion, while it might be easy to point out the lack of rest in others, it is essential to first examine our own lives. We must ensure that we are not allowing anything to hinder us from fully experiencing the rest that Christ offers. Before we critique others, let’s first address the areas in our own lives where we may be falling short of experiencing God’s rest. We must identify and remove anything that is preventing us from embracing the fullness of the rest that God intends for us.