Proper
9
Matthew 11:25-30
6 July 2014
Come
to Me
“When life’s troubles rise to meet me. Though their weight may be great,
they will not defeat me. God, my loving Savior sends them. He who knows, all my
woes, knows how best to end them.”[1]
Almighty
and everlasting God, through Your Son You have promised us forgiveness of sin
and everlasting life. Govern our hearts by Your Holy Spirit, that in our daily
need, and especially in all time of temptation, we may seek Your help and by a
true and lively faith in Your Word, obtain all that You promised! Through Jesus
Christ our Lord. [2]
What Jesus offers is peace.
It’s more than a feeling. It’s a state of being. A commodity many are willing
to pay any price to obtain. “Aint no mountain high enough…aint no valley low
enough…for us to yearn, to strive, to struggle - to achieve it.” Where do we
find this peace? Christ our Savior has promised to give us His abiding peace.
So look to Jesus. And to the places where He can be found. As John has reminds us in his gospel, Jesus
said, “Peace I give you, My peace I leave
you. Not as the world gives it do I give to you.”[3]
No wonder we pray in the
collect for peace, “…give us that peace
which the world simply cannot give.” In our Gospel lesson for today, Jesus promises
that His peace may be yours.
Jesus says, “Come to Me.”
- All who labor and are
heavy burdened.
A.
Laboring
under the burden of living in a broken world. In this world there continues to
be contention and strife. “Come unto Me
all those who are carrying heavy burdens” (v.8)
1.
We’re
living outside of Eden. Paradise has been lost.
2.
It’s a
world broken by sin and its weight.
B.
Heavy
burdened with the weight of the evil three. Sin. Death. Devil. This contention was brought about by the
devil who tempted our parents Adam and Eve causing them to fall headlong into
sin. No matter what man attempts he
cannot produce a lasting peace. If anything, it will be temporary and fleeting.
100 years ago this past week. An assignation lead to the First World War. It
was a war to end all wars. Since then, there have been countless battles,
conflicts, engagements. With no end in sight. There has never been a time in
which we have seen peace that lasts. This world is constantly at war with
itself.
Transition: Man as sinner by
himself cannot find lasting peace. Only Christ has the sufficiency to give it.
- He gives rest. This Jesus
offers to all who come to Him in faith.
A.
Take His
yoke upon you. To be yoked is to be teamed with Him. Thus the hymn writer
reminds us, “Lord take thy hand and lead
me along life’s way…”
1.
His yoke
is easy – because we don’t go it alone. Even a yoked team will have a dominant
member. “Savior lead, I follow Thee…”
His yoke is easy for He leads. He directs. He feeds us from day to day.
2.
His
burden is light – because He does all the heavy lifting. Is it a purpose drive
life?
3.
Possibly,
we haven’t still learned the difference between two words.
a.
Do – Law
– what to do, what not to do, how to live – a tendency to give us “morality”
b.
Done –
Gospel – What God in Christ has accomplished at the bloody cross and empty
tomb.
B.
Learn
from Him.
1.
He is
gentle and lowly in heart. Gentle does not mean “weak”. He took your cares,
concerns, and burdens. “Surely he hath
borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken,
smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he
was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and
with his stripes we are healed.” [4]
2.
You will
find rest for your soul. Rest because you are in Him. From the heavy burden of
sin. That you've been carrying. Find your rest in Him. The Lord offers you a trade. His yoke. Which
is easy. And light. Jesus lifts your burden. By carrying it Himself. The load of your sin. He bore in His body. To
the cruel cross of Calvary. There He offers you that great exchange. His mercy
and grace replaces the burden of your sin. He became your substitute. He lived
a perfect life. For you. He died a sinner’s death. For you. He rose to life. And replaces you former life
with His life. Now His Spirit directs you. The life you live you live for
Him.
In this world there continues
to be contention and strife. “Come unto
Me all those who are carrying heavy burdens.” (v.18) Jesus offers true and
lasting peace to all who could come to Him in faith. Jesus Christ alone is the
source of your peace. Jesus’ prayer at the cross needs to be your prayer, this
day. “Father, into Thy hands I commend
myself…”May Christ’s peace be yours this day.
886 - Words
3% - Passive sentences
88.1% - Reading Ease
3.0 - Reading level
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