“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
I was reading a devotional by John Piper recently that stressed how we should prepare our hearts during Advent in order to celebrate Christmas properly, i.e. Advent is to Christmas as Lent is to Easter. Too often, we get so caught up in the preparations and parties associated with Christmas that we fail to settle our souls and worship Christ for His priceless gift freely offered. That offer, or rather our Savior’s invitation, is the basis of our celebration for without it, there is no peace, joy or forgiveness. While Matthew 11:28 is not a passage normally associated with Advent, it does speak to the heart of Christ’s mission as He came to earth and dwelt among us so long ago.
Come
“Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, according to the faithful mercies shown to David.” Isaiah 55:3
“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.” Revelation 22:17
Christ says “come to Me”. First and foremost, He calls us to Himself as He is the only One able to provide salvation, righteousness, reconciliation and sustaining grace. There is none other who can offer what we need at our deepest level…for our souls and for eternity. It is only in Christ that we find the ingredients for true peace in this life as well as the one to come. However, His invitation is not merely a free hand-out. It is also an invitation to a relationship with Him. He invites us to come close and get to know Him, to trust Him, to rely and Him and to know that He truly is our portion…all that we need.
All
“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10
It is no small thing that the angels announcing our Savior’s birth appeared to the shepherds. It set the tone for Christ’s ministry to seek and to save the lost and hurting. Our Lord isn’t impressed with beauty, wealth, power, or prestige as those things have been granted by Him (1 Chronicles 29:12). Rather, He looks past those things to our heart and to our soul. Christ’s invitation is extended to those from all walks of life and all circumstances…all who are: weary, humble, sick, grieving, lonely, lost, hungry, thirsty, poor, rich, uneducated, educated or spiritually bankrupt. He invites all who hunger and thirst for righteousness. His invitation is given to all because “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”. Further, as broad as Christ’s invitation is, it is very personal. While He is certainly inviting all of us, He is also inviting each of us. In Revelation 3:20 He says: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” He desires that sweet communion with those whom He loves. However, He does not force Himself on us; we must open the door, accept His gift and invite Him in.
Rest
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” Matthew 11:29
Because of our relationship with Christ, the rest that He offers is tailored to each of our needs. It starts with His sacrifice. Our Savior did not bear some vague conglomeration of sins; He bore each of our specific sins. In so doing, we are individually restored to unity with God. But He goes on to say “learn from Me”. He restores our relationship with God the Father and then offers to teach us how to live a godly life. Rather than the restriction that many fear, His instruction in godly living is intended to bring freedom and peace for the soul and mind. The more we yield to God’s ways, the less we bear the pain of our sinful acts. However, when we err, He is able to redeem those mistakes as well using them for good. He provides for all of our needs. When we face the trials, He is with us encouraging us and sustaining us; when we share our concerns with Him, He grants perfect inexplicable peace. He also restores our souls as we rely on Him. The rest that Christ offers is complete; it forgives, unifies, teaches, frees, redeems, provides, encourages, comforts, sustains, calms and restores. He is truly our Prince of Peace and He is enough.
Reflect
Wherever you find yourself this season, come to your Savior. If you have not done so, accept His gift of salvation and enter a close relationship with Him. If you have already established that relationship, take time during this season of preparation to settle your soul and draw near to Him. Ask the Father to provide wisdom and instruction; allow the Holy Spirit to guide you and reveal areas of your life that need to be addressed; and review your life to see how Christ is at work to meet the needs in your life so that you can truly worship your Lord, your Savior, and your Prince of Peace. His love, His righteousness and His Peace are the greatest gifts that you will ever receive…treasure them for the priceless presents that they are.
Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.
Will
Consider reading the following from Desiring God.
The Great Invitation: Come! Drink! Eat! Live!