Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

October12
Sunday


A SANCTUARY

READ:
Matthew 11:25-30
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Come to Me, all you
who labor and are
heavy laden, and I will
give you rest.
__Matthew 11:28
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Entering a church in Klang, Malaysia, I was intrigued by the sign welcoming us into the building. It declared the place to "A Sanctuary for the Heavy Laden."

Few things better reflect the heart of Christ than for His church to be a place where burdens are lifted and the weary find rest. This was vital in Jesus' ministry, for He said, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matt 11:28).

Jesus promised to take our burdens and exchange them for His light load. "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" (vv.29-30).

This promise is backed by His great strength. Whatever burdens we may carry, in Christ we find the strong shoulders of the Son of God, who promises to take our heavy burdens and exchange them for his light load.

Christ, who loves us with an everlasting love, understands our struggles, and can be trusted to provide us with a rest we can never find on our own. His strength is enough for our weakness, making Him our "sanctuary for the heavy laden."
__Bll Crowder

``````````````````"Let not your heart be troubled,"````````````````````
``````````````````````His tender word I hear,````````````````````````
````````````````````and resting on His goodness,`````````````````````
````````````````I lose my doubts and fears. __Martin``````````````````
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God calls the restless ones to find their rest in Him.

***************************Today's Bible Reading __ Matthew 11:25-30****************************

25 At that time Jesus
answered and said, "I thank
You, Father, Lord of heaven
and earth, that You have
hidden these things from
the wise and prudent and
have revealed them to
babes. 26 Even so, Father,
for so it seemed good in
Your sight. 27 All things
have been delivered to Me
by My Father, and no one
knows the Son except the
Father. Nor does anyone
know the Father except the
Son, and the one to whom
the Son wills to reveal Him.

28 Come to Me, all you who
labor and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.

29 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. 30 For My yoke
is easy and My burden is
light."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
A yoke is a wooden harness that joins two animals (usually oxen or
donkeys) so they can work together to pull heavy loads. In the Old
Testament, the prophet Jeremiah used it as a metaphor for God's
laws (Jer. 5:5) and as a symbol of submission and enslavement
(27:8).

The Jews had been wearied and enslaved by the heavy yoke of
legalistic Judaism that the Pharisees had strenuously imposed on
them (Matt. 23:4). "Come to Me" (v.28) is Jesus invitation to put
their trust in Him for salvation and deliverance. Jesus' yoke is "easy
and light" (v.30) because it comes from His mercy and love, rooted
in who He is__" gentle and lowly in heart" (v.29). Jesus extends
that same invitation to us today. because of our new birth, His
commands are not burdensome (1 John 5:3-4).