Morning Devotion
February 1, 2021
Today's Bible Verse
Matthew 11:28-29
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden (meaning burdened), and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Today's Bible Study
In this verse, Jesus invites us to rest in Him. He promises that when we choose to follow Him, He will give us rest. This is in contrast to how we often live: heavy laden (meaning burdened) by the guilt of our sin. Let's dig into this verse to understand how to apply it to our lives now.
First, notice who Jesus invites: those who are heavy laden. But heavy laden with what? From the context, we can infer that Jesus is talking to those who are burdened with sin. They understand that their sin has separated them from the love of God, and they long to be set free from sin. They've tried to fix themselves, laboring to make themselves good enough for God, but their inability to improve has wearied them.
Jesus invites them to "come unto him" and it is an invitation, not a demand. We can be weary from our sin and still not turn to Jesus. We have to make the decision to come to Him before we can experience His rest. We must accept the invitation first.
First, notice who Jesus invites: those who are heavy laden. But heavy laden with what? From the context, we can infer that Jesus is talking to those who are burdened with sin. They understand that their sin has separated them from the love of God, and they long to be set free from sin. They've tried to fix themselves, laboring to make themselves good enough for God, but their inability to improve has wearied them.
Jesus invites them to "come unto him" and it is an invitation, not a demand. We can be weary from our sin and still not turn to Jesus. We have to make the decision to come to Him before we can experience His rest. We must accept the invitation first.
When we do come to Jesus, submitting ourselves to His command, He gives us His yoke. We lose the burden, or yoke, of our own sin and instead put on Jesus'. Then we learn from Him. This means our spiritual growth is only beginning when we accept Jesus' invitation. Since we are freed from sin, we are now able to learn from Jesus how to walk in holiness and live through Him.
Would you say that you are weary today? If so, pray today's verse aloud. The Lord does not want you to be weary, or to live in shame or guilt, nor does He want you burdened by sin. He wants you to walk in peace with Him, and the life that He offers us is so much better than any life we might create for ourselves.
Would you say that you are weary today? If so, pray today's verse aloud. The Lord does not want you to be weary, or to live in shame or guilt, nor does He want you burdened by sin. He wants you to walk in peace with Him, and the life that He offers us is so much better than any life we might create for ourselves.
Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, I thank you for giving me a new life. Thank you for opening my eyes to your love and mercy. Thank you for inviting me to take your yoke. Thank you for the freedom that serving you offers. Help me to truly put it on and live in it, knowing the depths of your love and honoring your name with my life. In Jesus' name, amen.
If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.
-C.S. Lewis
God will not look you over for medals, degrees or diplomas but for scars.
-Elbert Hubbard
The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.
-C.S. Lewis
If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people he gave it to.
-Dorothy Parker
Yesterday's Devotional
January 31, 2021
Yesterday's Bible Verse
Romans 6:14
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Yesterday's Bible Study
In this verse from Romans, we are reminded that we are free from sin once and for all. Before we knew Jesus, we were like slaves to sin, bound up in our inability to please the Lord. Now we are free from sin and live no longer under the law, but under grace.
Before Jesus came, the Hebrews lived under very strict law. That law, which makes up much of Leviticus, included rigorous deity instructions, rituals for cleansing, and many other regulations. The highly detailed instructions about sacrifices had to be followed perfectly; if they were not, sacrifices would be rejected and people could be struck dead. The law was necessary because the people needed to be perfect before approaching a holy God. The holiness of the Lord could not mix with sin or any imperfections; the law was intended to show the Hebrews how they could approach Him.
However, the law only revealed their need for a savior. They could not keep all the laws and please the Lord, and thus landed in exile and without the blessing of a holy God. What was intended to help them stay near to the Lord ended up only condemning them further.
Before Jesus came, the Hebrews lived under very strict law. That law, which makes up much of Leviticus, included rigorous deity instructions, rituals for cleansing, and many other regulations. The highly detailed instructions about sacrifices had to be followed perfectly; if they were not, sacrifices would be rejected and people could be struck dead. The law was necessary because the people needed to be perfect before approaching a holy God. The holiness of the Lord could not mix with sin or any imperfections; the law was intended to show the Hebrews how they could approach Him.
However, the law only revealed their need for a savior. They could not keep all the laws and please the Lord, and thus landed in exile and without the blessing of a holy God. What was intended to help them stay near to the Lord ended up only condemning them further.
The Lord knew this would happen. He anticipated that grace would be the only hope for His people. However, as a holy God, He could not simply give grace without meting out justice. So He sent His son, Jesus, who finally followed the law perfectly, living a sinless life, and then gave His own life, the final and perfect sacrifice that offers justification to each of us today.
Because of Jesus, we no longer live under the law but under grace, as the verse in Romans reads. We no longer have to sacrifice animals before coming to the Lord because Jesus has covered our iniquity. We are able to get to know the Lord through His Word and His work in our hearts, and we can rest in His grace for all of our days.
Because of Jesus, we no longer live under the law but under grace, as the verse in Romans reads. We no longer have to sacrifice animals before coming to the Lord because Jesus has covered our iniquity. We are able to get to know the Lord through His Word and His work in our hearts, and we can rest in His grace for all of our days.
Yesterday's Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you so much for grace. You are so good to me and have given me more than I could ever deserve. Thank you for Jesus, who made my relationship with you possible in the first place. I adore you, God. In Jesus' name, amen.