[28] Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] 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. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30)
What in life is weighing you down? What is stealing your joy? What is lancing your hope? What thoughts are constantly, obsessively, coursing through your mind?
Whatever it is, Jesus is here for you. He has experience being “heavy laden”. Jesus bore a yoke of wood, a wooden cross. The weight of the sins of the world drove each nail into the wood.
Yet it is because Jesus was forsaken that we have hope. In his resurrection, Jesus proved that he had earned the forgiveness of our sins. By this grace Jesus moves us to come to him with our exhausted souls. We discover that Jesus’ yoke is easy and his burden is light.
Why? One reason is Jesus has already done the heavy lifting to ensure our eternity with him is secure. Freed from worries of death and eternal condemnation, we can focus on our Lord walking with us through whatever struggles we currently face.
(A Second Look devotions are written for the congregations of the Ohio District LCMS.)
Kevin Wilson 360 