Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– Matthew 11:28
Come to Him
No one can come to Christ unless the Father draws Him, and only then can they receive eternal life (John 6:44). However, the first step in resting in Christ is to come to Him, but “anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” (Luke 18:17). This doesn’t mean we’re to be childish but to come to Christ in childlike faith, which means that, like a young child, we trust, have faith, and more easily believe. Adults sometimes grow too cynical and hardhearted and are full of doubt, but children are tenderhearted, humble, and sensitive and have strong belief in what they’re told–that is how we must come to Christ.
Cease From Your Labors
Next, we must cease from our labors. That is, we must stop trying to work for our salvation (Eph. 2:8-9). Some came to Jesus once and asked Him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God” (John 6:28). That’s the wrong question. There’s no amount of works you can do to save yourself, which is why Jesus said, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent” (John 6:29), “for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his” (Heb 4:10). It’s not what we can do; it’s what Christ has done.
Accept His Rest
We touched on this in the previous paragraph in Hebrews 4:10 where we must enter God’s rest, which means we’ve rested from our works. People grow weary and heavy burdened because they try to work things out in their own effort. They must come to Christ, find their rest in Him, accept that rest, and stop trying to work. We are not saved by works, but a person who is saved will naturally produce good works. However, these good works didn’t bring their salvation; they were a result of their salvation, “for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest” (Heb. 4:10-11a).
Conclusion
Are you tired of carrying around the heavy loads of life that burden you? Have you wearied from these loads? Then I suggest you come to Christ, that you cease from your labors and accept Christ’s work and the rest that He alone gives, for He says “I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28b).
