Are You a Weary Traveler?

 N.T.#126 "Are You a Weary Traveler?"

August 9, 2023

Matthew 11-Part 9

Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light. ((verses 28-30)

LET IT GLOW

When we went to visit our daughter and her family, I made sure by backpack had wheels. (I have to carry a lot of medicines and other things with me.) Even that got heavy for me to pull through the long walk in the airport from one gate to another. My wonderful daughter in law saw my struggle and pulled it for me. (Another time my husband pulled it, too.) What a relief it was to only have to walk fast and not pulling that weight. Are you a weary traveler carrying about a heavy weight, friend? There is hope. Read on.

Are you broken, bruised, downtrodden, oppressed, failed, fallen, ashamed, rejected, brutalized, or bullied? Are you weary and heavy burdened? Are you fatigued by emotional exhaustion that comes from experiencing draining crises or heavy burdens? 

Here are some in-depth answers for us by Swindoll's Living Insights in Matthew:

• Two invitations from Jesus involves coming, taking, and learning as His arms are open wide. We come by believing, trusting, and receiving Him by grace alone through faith alone. Take Jesus' yoke upon us and in that way to learn from Him. The yoke enters into submission to Him.
• A benefit from learning from Jesus is facing the truth about ourselves. With legalism in Jesus' day, the people were overloaded by striving to keep the laws of the Pharisees and scribes. They were under obligations, guilt, shame, and requirements which left them exhausted.
• Notice that Jesus He is gentle and humble in heart. (verse 29) He is tender and loving, patient and kind, not harsh or touchy. He put the needs of others before His own needs.
•  Jesus wants to give us rest for our souls. (verses 28-29)  It means to cause someone to gain relief from toil; refreshment and renewal; ceasing from wearisome activity.

 Jesus' invitation comes to us like a gasp of air to a drowning person. He is what we need in this time of life. He listens to our troubles, sees our needs, and helps us carry our load. When we have done all we can, give it up to our Savior. That is how we find rest and peace, friend. Lay it at the feet of Jesus and surrender it to Him to take care of for us.

LET IT GROW

Jeremiah 6:16 says, Thus says the LORD, Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and you will find rest for your souls. 

Here is an image of travelers who are lost, stopping to inquire about the right way they once knew before they wandered so far away from it. (John MacArthur)

The only way for us to make it through this situation is to sit at the feet of the Savior and hear His Word. Take time to pray and study His word is good advice we can give to those afflicted. Rest in the love of God and Jesus Christ and He will satisfy your longing and need for peace. Then we can find the answers we seek.

I don't know about you, dear one, but I needed these words this week. I get weary carrying around the afflictions of my body and meeting the needs of others. However, our problems won't disappear, but Jesus wants to help carry them for us. Life with Jesus is so much easier than doing life on our own. I need to be reminded of that.

LET IT GO

Thank You Jesus that You carry our burdens when we turn them over to You.

What a wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord!

You give us peace like a river flowing from Your throne.

How to Get Rid of Burdens

N.T.#125 "How to Get Rid of Burdens"

August 8, 2023

Matthew 11-Part 8

Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, 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. For my yoke is easy, and My burden is light. (verses 28-30)

LET IT GLOW

Are you trying to cope without hope? Do you feel stressed to the max? Does there seem no relief in sight? When your mind is so full of things to do, problems to solve, and burdens too heavy without sleep, this is for you and me. Listen, my friend, there is a way-Jesus Christ. Let's take a look at what He said and wants to give us:

• First, come with me and sit at the feet of Jesus. Come means to go; come hither.
• If you are included in the group of those who labor and are heavy laden, come on and join me. 
• Labor means to pile up; accumulated; laden refers to load up (as a vessel or animal); to overburden with ceremony or spiritual anxiety.
• If things have piled up in your mind and you are loaded up to the max with anxiety, and you don't know what to do next, come on with me.
• Jesus says He will give us rest, which means intermission; recreation. Who doesn't need a break?

I think peace of mind, that Jesus has got this, so we must turn it over to Him to hand in His way and His timing. We must trust the Holy Spirit to bring conviction of sin when the problem is with people. Love them enough to keep praying for them. We have to stop worrying about it and let our God handle it, work it out for our good and His glory.

Then we can find that peace that passeth all understanding.

LET IT GROW

First of all, come to Jesus for salvation. If you never asked Him to be your Savior and forgive your sins, do it now, dear one. 

Next, if you are spending your life under the heavy burden of sin and its consequences, as a follower of Jesus, ask Jesus to forgive you. Then turn from your sinful ways.

A yoke referred to a beam of the balance; servitude; coupling. 

A yoke was a bar of wood so constructed as to unite two animals, usually oxen, enabling them to work in the fields. So Jesus wants to be bound with us and help carry our heavy load. Let's trade burdens for belief, guilt for peace and joy, rebellion for submission. (Swindoll)

LET IT GO

Your will be done in each of our lives, Jesus.

Help me know You've got this. work out our problems for our good and Your glory.

Thank You Jesus for what You are going to do. 

Having Wisdom

N.T. #124 "Having Wisdom"

August 7, 2023

Matthew 11-Part 7

LET IT GLOW

The crowd that stood before Jesus (from Capernaum, Chorazin, and Bethsaida) must have been shocked to hear such stron woes pronounced against them and their neighboring cities. They saw what Jesus did firsthand, and yetg they stubbornly refused to repent of their sins and believe in him. Therefore, punishment was coming for them. (verses 21-24)

In verses 25-27, we read of the prayer which Jesus prayed loudly to the Father enough for everybody to hear:

• He praised the Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because He had hidden things from the wise and learned (arrogant) and revealed them to infants who are humbly open to receive the truth of God's Word.
• Such a plan was done because this was His good pleasure, pleasing to God.
• Jesus is the only way to God the Father.
• Jesus has an intimate relationship with God.
• Jesus chooses to whom He reveals Himself and God.(verse 24) 

Are we wise in our own eyes, or do we seek the truth in childlike faith, realizing that only God holds all the answers? Are we trying to figure out life without God? It does not work that way. God keeps secrets from those who think they are smart enough to figure out life independent of God. 

The answer to life's burdens isn't found via human wisdom, but through accepting the divine viewpoint.

We must become like infants that trust their daddy. The only way to know and have access to our Father who hides things from self-sufficient people is through knowing and trusting His Son Jesus Christ. (Tony Evans)

LET IT GROW

Do we desire to be wise and discerning? Then our heart must remain near to God through faith in Jesus. Spiritual understanding isn't dependent on human equipment or status. It is the gift of God, and so is given to those in whom He is well pleased. It is the choice of a Sovereign Lord of heaven and earth with a sovereign purpose. 

Paul explained it like this: Consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.     (1 Corinthians 1:26-29)

Do we want to be wise, then ask Jesus for wisdom. James tells us to ask in faith from God, nothing wavering. (James 1:6)

Jesus knew He was the Messiah, the Son of David and Son of God. He knew He had a special, eternal, divine relationship with God the Father. Yet, He did not flaunt it. Are you open to the Spirit's work so you can see who Jesus really is? Do you know Him personally as your Savior? Simply ask Jesus to be your Savior and forgive your sins. He will. (1 John 1:9)

LET IT GO

We want to be wise, knowing Spiritual truths from Your Word so we can apply them in our life and honor You, Father God.

May we do Your will, Your way, today.

Who Are You Pleasing?

N.T.#123 "Who Are You Pleasing?"

Aug. 4, 2023

Matthew 11-Part 6

Wisdom is justified of her children. (verse 19)

LET IT GLOW

Have you noticed that some people can't be pleased? No matter how hard you try, they always criticize. John and Jesus encountered them, too.

John the Baptist ate locus and wild honey. His critics said he had a devil. Jesus ate and drank and they called him a glutton, a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors. There is no pleasing some people, yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds. (verse 19)

But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it. (verse 19, NLT)

Our ability to apply spiritual truth will be revealed by what we do. Those who scorned John and Jesus showed their spiritual tanks were on empty.

Are our spiritual tanks on full or empty? Are we doing God's will His way or are we working out our plans our way? Are we showing the love of Jesus to others? Are we following wisdom of the Word?

Have faith. It is Jesus, the One whom we are to please. May we continue to work for Jesus as long as we have breath. Be sure to be a God-pleaser instead of a people-pleaser.

LET IT GROW

Then Jesus began to denounce the towns where He had done so many of His miracles, because they had not repented of their sins and turned to God. Some towns sorrow awaited. There was no honor for them, for wickedness and rejection prevailed.

LET IT GO

Help us not fail spreading the Gospel in our cities today, Lord.

Set our souls afire with the Good News. 

Great in Heaven

N.T.#122 "Great in Heaven"

August 3, 2023

Matthew 11-Part 6

LET IT GLOW

John the Baptist had a purpose. It was revealed as Malachi wrote his book: 

Behold, I will send My messenger, and he shall prepare the way before Me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant, who ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 3:1)

John was not the Messiah, but pointed the way to Jesus, the Messiah. That verse corresponds with verse 10. He role was to decrease in prominence while Jesus' ministry increased. (John 3:30) John allowed his disciples to leave him in order to follow Jesus. His ministry only lasted about 6 months. Jesus said of John that no one was greater in the kingdom of heaven. That included Moses, Elijah, and Isaiah. John matched their greatness. (verse 11a)

Yet, this preacher needed reassurance as he faced death. We know they cut off John's head. It was due to his telling the truth. We read the details in chapter 14.

Are we prepared for anything as a result in our serving Jesus faithfully?

LET IT GROW

Yet, Jesus said that John the Baptist was the least in the kingdom of heaven. Will we allow Jesus to carry out His work through our lives? Then greater things will be done through us than were ever accomplished through John the Baptist.

[Reference: Experiencing God Day-By-Day, by Henry and Richard Blackaby]

Our kingdom work is just as important as that of John's. It all works together to accomplish God's purpose. so let's continue with courage, unwavering faith, determination, and endurance as we point others to Jesus, the Savior and Messiah.

LET IT GO 

Help us continue with self-denial and love.

Bless Your children throughout the world.

Protect us from evil.

Who do You Say Jesus is?

N.T.#121 "Who do You Say Jesus Is?"

August 2, 2023 

Matthew 11-Part 5

LET IT GLOW

The disciples departed on their mission and Jesus spoke with the multitudes concerning John. He asked them questions:

• What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see?
• Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind?
• Or were you expecting a man dressed in expensive clothes?
• Were you looking for a prophet?

What do we look for in a Savior? Is it one who never leaves us nor forsakes us? Is it one who loves us unconditionally? Is it one who is forgiving, strengthening, providing?

Who do you say Jesus is?

Jesus is the Messiah, Son of the Living God, Redeemer and Savior, our only way to heaven, The Truth.

LET IT GROW

Who did Jesus say John the Baptist was?

• Certainly, he was no reed swaying in the wind, tossed around in every wind of doctrine. 
• He stood firm in his beliefs. John was a kingdom man, urging sinners to repent. (chapter 3)
• He was a prophet unintimidated by religious leaders or a king. ((3:7-10)
• He was God's chosen messenger to prepare the way for Christ. (verse 3)
• He boldly proclaimed God's Word and faced violent opposition. (verses 12-14)

I wonder how Jesus describes you and me to the Heavenly Father. 

LET IT GO

Help our faith to not waver, Jesus.

Use us for kingdom work.

To You be glory, honor, and praise.

Endurance and Doubt

 N.T.#120 "Endurance and Doubt"

August 1, 2023

Matthew 11-Part 4

LET IT GLOW

John the Baptist was a signpost pointing to the Way-Jesus, paving the way for the Messiah. Yet, doubts came as he was in prison facing death.

What is evident about John?

•  He showed self-denial and his commitment to the Messiah.
•  He stayed true to his calling. 
• John had noble character. 
• He had strong convictions, knowing what he believed and shared them.

When our doubts come, turn to the Word of God for reassurance and strength to continue living by faith, trusting Jesus. I know that is easier said than done. What is the result when we do?

LET IT GROW

The result in our being faithful is being blessed. 

God blesses those who do not turn away because of Me. (verse 6, NLT)

Jesus used the word "offended," which means scandalized or speak falsely; tripped up; stumbled.

Can we accept unfair suffering for doing good? Even when our questions and prayers remain unanswered? Can we wait patiently and endure for God's time-table to turn things around?

LET IT GO

Lord, we need strength through trying times. 

Please give us peace as we endure things.

Help our faith to grow so we can be more like you.

Blessed be the name of Jesus.