Encouragement
Have you ever pondered what an amazing thing it is that God has preserved a written version of His word for thousands of generations? The bible says that the Word of God was in the beginning and that the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God." "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:1,2,14.
This means that from eternity God has been speaking to mankind and that He continues to speak. Indeed, we are told in God's preserved words that the Word of God will stand forever.
"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:8.
If God has purposed to preserve his words to us and throughout all generations, what then, is the message that is repeated to us over and over again through His word?
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28.
God holds forth an invitation to us. It is a standing invitation, never revoked, extended to all. "Come, " He says, "and I will give you rest." That means that no matter what the extent of your problems and burdens or troubles, you can find rest in the Lord.
We all understand what rest is. You've experienced what it is to work hard all day long, perhaps at an occupation or dealing with children or housework. At the end of the day every muscle aches, feet are tired, your bones weary. Likewise, you've known the utter relief of lying down in a clean comfortable bed with your head propped up on a fluffy pillow. Or perhaps you have a reclining, easy chair in which you can lay back and relax with your feet up. When you close your eyes the events of the day slip away and your body comes to a rest.
In the same wonderful way, when we have struggled with circumstances over which we have little control and no matter what we do, it appears that things get worse instead of better; when we have been hurt or let down by someone very close to us whom we trusted and counted on; when we can't even find peace at home; when we just don't know what to do, God holds forth His invitation, "Come." God offers to give you relief for your soul, your emotions, and your mind. He offers to give you peace.
What is embodied in this word, "come?"
First, it is an invitation to step away from yourself and all of your efforts and ideas and solutions and come to Him. As said above, "...you who labor and are heavy laden." We have the privilege and opportunity to give him all of our baggage, to leave it there and never pick it up again.
"...Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7.
Secondly, it is an invitation to trust.
"Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass." Psalms 37:5.
In the bible, God has made awesome, wonderful promises. We must search the scriptures (His word that he has preserved for us, forever) to find out what he has for us. Every promise that he has made is true and for each one of us today. His promises are for you. And all of the promises God gives are extended to us through his Son, Jesus Christ.
"For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen,..." 2 Corinthians 1:20a.
We can be assured that if God loved us enough to give us His only Son, then there is nothing else that He will withhold from you; He freely gave you the most precious gift of all.
"He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" Romans 8:32.
Thirdly, it is an invitation to give yourself totally to him.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5,6.
Many people balk at this because they are afraid that if they turn their lives over to God and purpose to do things God's way that they will be miserable. But God loves you. He wants you to be at peace and to have joy.
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13.
God has good things for you. He knows what is best for you. When we do things God's way we can be assured that we are standing on solid ground and that nothing can shake us. God will give you everything you need to be a whole person in your body, soul and spirit.
Consider that the wonderful word of God has everything that you need for life.
"But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'"" Matthew 4:4.
God's word is more important than our daily bread. It represents the thoughts and will and wisdom of the One who created the entire universe. This is the One who speaks to us continually through His Son, Jesus.
"God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;" Hebrews 1:1,2.
If we will listen, if we will accept His invitation, then and only then will we begin to live.
"...But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name." John 20:31.
All Scriptures have been taken from
The New King James Version
Copyright (c) 1982
Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission.
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