Rest produces more things!

In my earlier post I spoke of Jesus as the Good Shepherd of Psalm 23 in the Old Testament. King David, once a humble shepherd himself, understood the Lord as his Shepherd, even though Jesus had not been born during his lifetime. David had a real relationship with His God. He knew a personal Lord in his own life.

Matthew 11:28-31

“‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’”

Matthew 11:28-30 NIVUK

Here, in Matthew’s Gospel in the New Testament, Jesus speaks about His rest. He is not referring to Himself as a Shepherd caring for the sheep, but as an animal bearing a heavy load. He speaks of a yoke which would be used to keep oxen, for example, in alignment as they pulled a cart or a plough together. He invites us to be yoked to Him so that we can rest knowing that He is taking the strain. His yoke is easy, He says, and His burden light.

He understands that we are often weighed down by multiple religious spirits which counterfeit His Spirit and impose all sorts of tiring expectations and heavy burdens on us to perform and achieve in our lives; especially in spiritual ways. We carry much more that God ever intended us to carry!

The Message Version

I love The Message version of these verses.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Matthew 11:28-30 MSG

I believe that Eugene Peterson, who wrote The Message version, understands Jesus’s offer of real rest. It’s about staying in close relationship with Him.

“Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life…

And that wonderful phrase “learn the unforced rhythms of grace” – what poetry!

So, this is my reflection today as I seek a personal season of rest in Jesus.

I want to learn from the One who was gentle and humble in heart as He walked this earth, doing only what His Father told Him to do.

Here’s The Message version of those verses in Matthew, which I have tried to present as poetry:

Rest in Jesus 

Are you tired? 
Worn out? 
Burned out on religion? 

Come to me 
Get away with me 
You’ll recover your life

I’ll show you how to take a real rest 

Walk with me 
And work with me
Watch how I do it 

Learn the unforced rhythms of grace 

I won’t lay anything heavy 
Or ill-fitting on you
Keep company with me 

And you’ll learn to live freely and lightly