Read | Matthew 11:25–30
At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, because this was your good pleasure. All things have been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son desires to reveal him.
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
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Focus
Ask the Lord for a listening ear to bear someone's struggles, helping them process doubts so you can both choose obedience even when circumstances are difficult.
In preparation for today’s sermon, read this devotional from Kraig McNutt, M.Div.
Finding Rest for Our Souls
based on Matthew 11:25-30
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." —Matthew 11:28-30
Most people are aware deep down that they desire to have peace within. A feeling of rest about why they exist, how they got here, and the meaning and purpose of life. Heady subjects, right? It almost feels like every major question we have has to be answered before we find that rest in our souls.
Then, if the subjects (like the problem of evil) themselves weren’t burdensome enough, the search itself can be exhausting. One could become a deep expert in a given field today and still barely begin to understand how that field satisfies our deepest longings to answer the toughest questions.
The result? Inquiry leads to more confusion, fatigue leads to exhaustion, and that can lead one down the path to complete burnout.
So, what do we do with that? We need to understand that the peace we seek doesn’t come from our discovery, and maybe even having a few questions answered, but it comes from disclosure.
Jesus said, “. . . no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son desires to reveal him” (Matthew 11:27).
Did you catch that? The Son (Jesus) must reveal the Father.
Notice, the solution is not that the Son reveals to us all the answers we have about life, including the problem of evil, and answers to the profound mysteries of the universe.
Instead, the Son reveals, discloses, who the Father is. It’s a relational thing, not an intellectual exercise.
In essence, this means we can keep seeking answers to the most profound questions of life, but the inner peace, the rest, we each seek is disclosed by the Son, about the Father.
Has inquiry led to fatigue, perhaps even exhaustion? Why not replace the search for answers with a person who awaits you with open arms?
That person is Jesus—and he will show you the Father who made you.
Pray
Ask the Lord for the opportunity to become a listening ear for someone’s struggles or doubts.
Going Deeper
If you are also following the BibleProject’s One Story That Leads to Jesus reading plan, complete today’s reading.