Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. —Matthew 11:28
I cannot help but consider the cost of the rest offered to you and me through the body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am also thankful that the verse above is not an allegory but a wonderful reality. True rest can be found only in Jesus. The Greek word for rest here literally means “recreation.” Now we generally view this word recreation as a time of fun away from work, but look at the word carefully. “Re-creation” is the true meaning.
Jesus says, “Come unto me you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will re-create you.” This reminds us of Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that those who are in Christ are new creations. Paul also tells us why labors and heavy loads are exchanged for rest: “old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.” This is such a wonderful truth to keep in mind each day. We have put off laboring while heavy laden with the past because we are new creations—re-creations—in Christ!
I am thankful today God does not abandon the work He begins. Have you ever started a project and left it undone or lost interest in something halfway through it? Thankfully, God is not like that with us. Since He is faithful and unchanging, the rest we enjoyed at the outset of our journey with Him can be experienced all the way to the end. God is continually re-creating us in the sense that there is always more to be learned about Him and always more to be revealed about us. There is nothing more refreshing and more “re-creative” than becoming more like Him in another area of life.
Jesus said, “Come, this rest is yours,” and these words apply not just at the beginning but also in the middle and to the end of your journey home. Thank You, Jesus, for Your invitation to come, and thank You for the cost You paid to purchase our rest.
Let your life be a continual thank you for the rest Jesus purchased with His own blood!
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