Matthew 11:28, 29 - Jesus Teaches How to Be Gentle.
Matthew 11:28, 29 (NIV) "Come to me, all you
who are weary and burdened, and I will give you
rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is
easy and my burden is light."
COMMENTARY PEARL
Learning to be gentle is so important for
a follower of Christ. Gentleness defuses
conflict. It disarms critics. Its persuasive.
Its attractive. It communicates love.
Most importantly, gentleness makes you
more like Jesus. Matthew 11:28-29 says, 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
(NIV).
Wait. Does this mean that the stress and
pressure youre feeling in your life are because
you are not gentle? Yes. Because the Bible says
that the more Christ-like you become, the more
gentle you become and the more at rest you will
be.
Do you want to be at peace? Do you want
to be like Jesus? You cant just walk out
your door and force yourself to be gentle. You
cant manufacture gentleness, because inside
youre still going to be under stress. Its got
to be an inside job. It has to be the
fruit of Gods Spirit inside you.
I dont know what burden you are
carrying, but I do know the answer to your stress.
Jesus wants you to take his yoke upon you. This
means hes going to bear your burdens with you.
And when you let Jesus share your burden,
you will walk with him in a close relationship.
You will learn how to be gentler and humbler. He
will exchange your stress and pressure for his
rest and peace. [Daily Devotional by Rick Warren:
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
COMMENTARY
Human nature is ever struggling for
expression, ready for contest; but he who learns of
Christ is emptied of self, of pride, of love of
supremacy, and there is silence in the soul. Self is
yielded to the disposal of the Holy Spirit. Then we
are not anxious to have the highest place. We
have no ambition to crowd and elbow ourselves
into notice; but we feel that our highest place
is at the feet of our Saviour. We look to
Jesus, waiting for His hand to lead, listening for
His voice to guide.... MB14-16
There are many whose hearts are aching under
a load of care because they seek to reach the
world's standard. They have chosen its service,
accepted its perplexities, adopted its customs. Thus
their character is marred, and their life made a
weariness... He bids them seek first the kingdom of God
and His righteousness, and His promise is that
all things needful to them for this life shall
be added... Our heavenly Father has a thousand
ways to provide for us, of which we know nothing.
Those who accept the one principle of making the
service and honor of God supreme will find
perplexities vanish, and a plain path before their
feet... DA328-332
ILLUSTRATIONS
This past year, my prayer life has taken
a remarkable turn with profound impact on my
life. I hope it shows in these pages.
I've always prayed. Well, before I knew
Jesus, I prayed with fervent expectation that God
heard me, even after my prayers weren't answered
the way I wanted. Yet, deep in my seeking heart,
I sometimes glimpsed an answer that was deeper
than I could fully grasp. That's still true.
Since then, I've prayed with good
outcomes in mind - I thought. I've kept lists in
journals, using prayer acronyms like ACTS and PRAY.
I've punctuated prayers with "God willing," more
or less sincerely.
Then, honestly, I'd muster all the
self-will I could to see my prayer answered the way I
wanted. Convinced my prayer was good, I fought hard
to see or act against what was actually
unfolding.
It's only recently that I've seen how
this anxious and misguided method was painful and
took me out of God's will. Not outright sin, just
someplace less than the best. Moreover, it was a hard
way, always fighting against the flow.
I wish I knew then what I know now. When
I truly let go, life is so much better! He can
truly accomplish things I can't begin to imagine,
and He does it in remarkable ways that aren't as
exhausting as my way.
Today, praying expectantly is more like
quiet, submissive curiosity - I no longer force or
finagle. Faith is really life without scheming.
Jesus's leading is humble, gentle, and restful.
Isabella Yosuico
Faith Step: Pick one persistent prayer;
and entrust it to Jesus, letting it go entirely.
[Mornings With Jesus 2021 Devotional by Guideposts and
Zondervan]
Many nights Ive had trouble sleeping.
Even when Im exhausted and desperate for
sleep. When I cant sleep at night, I start
tossing and turning, and theres nothing worse
than looking at the clock and seeing the hours
roll by. Then I start worrying about how Im
going to feel the next day without having had
enough sleep. But this isnt how Jesus means for
us to live. He longs to give us rest. Jesus
doesnt want us to worry. He wants us to talk to Him
about our worries. When we pray, we transfer our
doubts and fears and worries to the One who can
take care of them. Jesus is our endless source of
peace and strength.
We need rest physically, emotionally,
mentally, and spiritually. Sleep deprivation can lead
to various problems. Psalm 4:8 (NIV) encourages
us, saying, In peace I will lie down and
sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in
safety. Jesus offers us hope, encouragement, peace,
and safety if we reach out to Him and depend on
Him. Jesus will give us complete rest for our
bodies, minds, and souls. Psalms 23:1"2 (KJV)
reminds us that, The Lord is my shepherd; I shall
not want. He maketh me to lie down in green
pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
Now when I lie down each night, I pray.
Sometimes I am so relaxed when talking to Jesus I fall
asleep. But what better way to fall asleep than
talking to the One who loves you? by Katie Minter
Jones
Faith Step: Pray when you climb into bed
tonight, giving Jesus your burdens. He will give you
peace and rest. [Mornings With Jesus 2020
Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE
Matthew 11:29 - Humble and Gentle Jesus.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20201023-0943.html
Matthew 11:28-30 - Come to Christ and Find
Real Rest!
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20201121-0955.html
Matthew 5:5: - Blessed Are The Meek, Gentle
Or Is It The Humble?
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2005/20051014-0856.html
Galatians 5:22, 23 - The Fruit of the Spirit.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200420-0835.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
Revelation Now by Pastor Doug Batchelor:
https://www.revelationnow.com/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
