Are you driven? Do you relentlessly pursue accomplishment so that people will respect you? Do you seek to be helpful so that people will appreciate you? Is there a void in your heart that you are trying to fill with people’s acceptance? Might that be a reflection of a bigger emptiness? Jesus invites us, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).”
We can’t find rest anywhere else, or in anyone else, than in Jesus. But why do we receive such satisfying rest in him alone?
We don’t have to impress Jesus. In fact, we can’t. We can’t do anything that will earn his respect. We can’t help him do something that he couldn’t do better by himself. That is even true of church work.
How does Jesus give rest? He loves us, accepts us, and forgives us, . . . but not because of our accomplishments. He loves us, accepts us, and forgives us because of his love. We have value because he valued us enough to die for us. Our lives can now change from an endless pursuit of fulfillment to an endless expression of thanks to our Savior.
In Christ we bask in the security of total forgiveness. We are enveloped in his love. We are settled in our hearts because of his acceptance of us. Does it sound too good to be true? This is one case in which the truth is incredibly good.
Come to Jesus. Grow deeper into Christ. He will give you the rest that brings a calm to your soul.
Prayer:
Lord, fill my heart with the perfect and satisfying rest of your love and forgiveness. Amen.
From The Word Speaks by Kenneth R. Kratz. All rights reserved.
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