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At that time Jesus declared, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was Your gracious will. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. Come to Me, all 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 11:25-30)
One of the oddest things about Jesus is the way He calls everyone to Himself—not just the rich and powerful, not just the brilliant and highly educated, but everybody. Literally everybody, if you read the four Gospels—He welcomes little children, a random Samaritan woman He meets at a well, tax collectors, rich people, fishermen, Roman soldiers, people with horrible diseases, people with bad reputations, even a scholar who sat on the ruling Jewish council. Jesus preaches in tiny villages and in the capital city just the same. There is nobody so low that He won’t stop and listen to them and care for their needs. There is nobody so high that He won’t call them on their evil-doing and appeal to them to change directions before it destroys them.
I’m a case in point. My family wasn’t part of a church when I came to faith in Jesus. I had no learning, no power, no social connections. I was a child! And yet He called me to Himself, and welcomed me, and made me His own.
And what about you? If you’re at all like me, you can name at least six reasons off the top of your head why Jesus shouldn’t pay attention to you. And Jesus knows those reasons. He doesn’t care. Jesus came into this world to become your Savior, to lay down His life to rescue you from sin, death, and the devil—and He rose again to make you His own forever. Jesus intends to keep you with Him forever, because He loves you, and He refuses to be without you.
And so He calls to you—“Come to Me.” Come when you’re burdened and stressed and tired. Come when you’re anxious and lonely. Come when you can’t make yourself believe He could possibly want you. Come anyway.
He is gentle and humble in heart. He won’t turn you away. He wants you.
WE PRAY: Lord, You know me, and You know my burdens. Bring me to You anyway. Give me Your rest. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
- Did Jesus ever turn anyone away—reject them, refuse to be around them?
- Why not?
- Is He going to start with you?
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