June
15, 2003
COME
TO ME, ALL WHO LABOR
"Come
to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give
you rest. 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. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matthew
11:28-30, NKJV).
"The
Elder Brother of our race is by the eternal throne. He looks
upon every soul who is turning his face toward Him as the
Saviour. He knows by experience what are the weaknesses of
humanity, what are our wants, and where lies the strength
of our temptations; for He was in all points tempted like
as we are, yet without sin. He is watching over you, trembling
child of God. Are you tempted? He will deliver. Are you weak?
He will strengthen. Are you ignorant? He will enlighten. Are
you wounded? He will heal. The Lord 'counts the number of
the stars;' and yet 'He heals the brokenhearted, and binds
up their wounds' (Psalm 147:4, 3). 'Come
to Me,' is His invitation. Whatever your anxieties
and trials, spread out your case before the Lord. Your spirit
will be braced for endurance. The way will be opened for you
to disentangle yourself from embarrassment and difficulty.
The weaker and more helpless you know yourself to be the stronger
will you become in His strength. The heavier your burdens,
the more blessed the rest in casting them upon the Burden
Bearer. The rest that Christ offers depends upon conditions,
but these conditions are plainly specified. They are those
with which all can comply. He tells us just how His rest is
to be found.
"
'Take My yoke upon you,' Jesus
says. The yoke is an instrument of service. Cattle are yoked
for labor, and the yoke is essential that they may labor effectively.
By this illustration Christ teaches us that we are called
to service as long as life shall last. We are to take upon
us His yoke, that we may be coworkers with Him.
"The
yoke that binds to service is the law of God. The great law
of love revealed in Eden, proclaimed on Sinai, and in the
new covenant written in the heart, is that which binds the
human worker to the will of God. If we were left to follow
our own inclinations, to go just where our will would lead
us, we should fall into Satan's ranks and become possessors
of his attributes. Therefore God confines us to His will,
which is high, and noble, and elevating. He desires that we
shall patiently and wisely take up the duties of service.
The yoke of service Christ Himself has borne in humanity.
He said, 'I delight to do Your will, O My God, and Your law
is within My heart' (Psalm 40:8). 'I
have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the
will of Him who sent Me' (John 6:38).. This was the
controlling power of His life. This principle He bids us adopt."--Desire
of Ages, pp., 319, 320.
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