An Invitation To Rest

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” - Matthew 11:28

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Christ invites the weary because He Himself knows what weariness is. He calls the burdened because He carried the heaviest burden of all. The heart of Christ toward sinners is not weary of their complaints, nor burdened by their weakness. His call is free, full, and forever. “Come unto me,” says He. Not to duties, not to ceremonies, not to self-reformation, not to anything but to Himself. If sinners would have rest, they must come to the Person of Christ. He has rest to give. Rest from the guilt of sin by His blood. Rest from the fear of death by His victory. Rest from the power of sin by His Spirit. Rest from the turmoil of conscience by His intercession. Christ is the rest of the soul.

Some think themselves too sinful to come, but Christ invites such most of all. He came not to call the righteous but sinners. He does not ask the weary to bring fitness or worthiness. He does not require that the heavy laden lighten their load before approaching Him. His invitation is not for the strong, but for the weak. Not for the healed, but for the sick. Not for the deserving, but for the desperate. The more unworthy the sinner feels, the more He is invited to come. Christ’s delight is to give rest to those who have no rest in themselves.

Let not the trembling soul linger outside the door. Christ has opened it with His own blood, and He stands ready to receive all who come. If rest could be found anywhere else, He would not have needed to call you. But there is no rest for the soul except in Christ. Come then, burdened sinner, come and you shall find in Him rest for your souls.

(Taken From The Jerusalem Sinner Saved by John Bunyan)