In Luke 10:29-37, Jesus tells us about a man who fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Life can leave us feeling like that, can’t it?
There are many pressures and struggles in this life that can cause us to become confused, discouraged, frustrated and even angry. The Bible tells us that these are all experiences that result from living in rebellion against our creator because of the sin in our hearts. Sin leads us to rebel against God by looking for our rest in anything and everything other than Him. Sin promises us the world, but then double crosses us and leaves us wounded, naked and ashamed. It may promise us satisfaction, but that is just a lie. Only God can satisfy our longings, for He is the one who has given them to us! St. Augustine once said, “[God] has made us for [Himself], and our hearts are restless until they rest in [Him].”
So how do we find satisfaction? Well, Jesus tells us how in Matthew 11:28-29,
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.
Here at Grace Presbyterian Church, we strive to believe that Jesus will do what He promises, though we do so inconsistently. He alone can give us the rest that we need and fulfill the deepest longings of our souls. So we present Christ, and Him crucified and risen from the dead for sinners as He is revealed in the Bible. We do not do this because we are better than anyone else, for we are just an ordinary and sinful group of people who have an extraordinary and gracious Savior.
Through the ministry of the Word, the administration of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and prayer, Jesus pursues us, gives Himself to us, and binds up our wounds with the healing salve of the gospel. The gospel is the good news for sinners that Jesus forgives our sin, grants us eternal life, and fulfills our desires for rest. It is for us simply to respond by receiving Him through repentance and faith.
Just as we are like the man stripped and beaten in the picture above, Jesus is like the Good Samaritan who kneels beside us to care for us. Only He is so much better. For He heals more than our physical ills, He heals us of our spiritual death. The Bible tells us that He accomplished this by taking our brokenness and sin upon Himself on the cross, dieing there for our sin, and then was raised in victory for us. And Jesus sustains our faith throughout our whole journey until we reach the fullness of heavenly rest with Him, His angels, and His departed saints.
As Jesus invites you to come to Him, we invite you to come join us in faith, hope, and worship. Jesus is gentle and lowly in heart, and in Him you will find rest for your soul.
May God bless us all in Christ,
Pastor David