April 24 – The Rest That Christ Offers

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. – Matthew 11:28, KJV

Christ extends to us a precious invitation—rest and peace—but it comes with a condition: that we take His yoke upon us. Those who accept this condition will find that the yoke of Christ makes every necessary burden bearable. Without Christ beside us to carry the greater weight, life’s burdens would indeed be too heavy. But with Him, every load becomes lighter. The more willingly we walk in obedience to God’s will, the deeper the rest we will find for our souls.

Meekness and humility will be the mark of all who obey God's law and submit to Christ’s yoke. These qualities bring about the blessed result of peace in serving God. True obedience does not lead to restlessness or resistance, but to a quiet and contented spirit.

God knows that if left to follow our own desires and go wherever our selfish will leads, we would fall into Satan’s snares and become molded into his image. Therefore, His law directs us to the will of One who is infinitely higher, nobler, and more loving than we can imagine. He calls us to take hold of our duties with patience and wisdom, trusting His guidance in every task.

But if submission to God is given with a sullen heart, it shapes the character of a rebel. Such service, offered only out of obligation, becomes mechanical and joyless. It does not bring peace, because it is not born of love.

God draws a clear distinction between two classes of people. Concerning the wicked, He declares: "There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked" (Isaiah 48:22, KJV). But of those who love His law, it is written: "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them" (Psalm 119:165, KJV).

Christ calls His yoke easy and His burden light—not because it offers a life of ease or self-indulgence, but because it is borne in love, in communion with Him. His life was marked by self-denial and sacrifice at every step. And so it will be with His true followers. Possessing a gentle and consistent love like His, they will walk where He walked, embracing the same path of surrender and trust.

In taking His yoke, we find not bondage, but true freedom—the peace of walking side by side with the One who carries us through every storm.