Learning from the Master
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” ~Matthew 11:28-30
When you think of this verse, you probably focus on the rest. I know I have. When I am overwhelmed or the burden feels like more than I can bear, it’s a promise I want to claim. Yes, Lord, draw me nearer so I can find that rest You are talking about. Last week, verse 29 jumped out at me like it never had before: “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart.” Wait a minute! Have I been focusing on the wrong words all this time?! God’s timing is always perfect so I expect that, in the past, I needed rest but now I need to see the gentle and lowly (or humble) side of Jesus that He desires to teach me.
Humility is hard. It is a constant dying to self and not always needing to be right. I think pride is one sin that everyone has in common and, yet, as Jesus’ followers, we are told to put on humility (Colossians 3:12; 1 Peter 5:5). This is something that we choose to do which can require biting our tongue (until it bleeds if necessary) in order to hold back that hurtful jab or that immense desire to say “I told you so.” I do not excel in this area, but I am asking for God’s help. It doesn’t bless anyone when I have to have the last word or make sure my opinion is known when my friend just needs a listening ear.
If you want to become more like Jesus, you must study what He is like. The fact is that He was obedient to death, even the death of the Cross (Philippians 2:8). That is what true servanthood is. That is being gentle and lowly in heart. When we become like Him, we will truly find rest for our souls.
Photo by Spring Fed Images on Unsplash
Leave a Reply
