Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek
11 October 2024
Reading From Matthew 11
“At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way!
“My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
–Mattew 11:25-30
Many times Jesus taught deep, profound truths using parables. Part of the reason He used parables was that those who listened to Jesus simply trusting and believing Him understood, but those who were indifferent, half-heartedly seeking or outright opposed to Him could not understand the true meaning of the stories He told. Without faith it is impossible to please God or know spiritual truth because we must first believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.[1]
All human beings are invited to the Presence of God the Father through the Way provided by God the Son. God chose you, now it is up to you to choose Him. “Whosever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”[2] He loves everyone more than they will ever know, but in order to experience a life-giving relationship with Him, His love must be reciprocated. He will not force anyone into righteous, healthy relationship. We must accept His invitation of our own accord.
When I look around in this tired, old world I see so many carrying heavy burdens. Burdens of guilt for past wrongs. Burdens of worry, stress, fear and anxiety. Burdens of trying to be god rather than surrendering to His will and allowing Him to provide for them. Burdens of striving to be good enough, not knowing that we can never achieve God’s glorious standard unless we admit that and accept the gift of salvation in Jesus.
He is our Great Burden-Bearer. From the Garden of Gethsemane to the Cross of Calvary, He took every sin and every care upon Himself. He alone, as the perfect Lamb of God, was uniquely qualified to pay the price for the sins of the world. But the judgment laid upon Him could not keep Him down. He rose again on the third day victorious over sin and death and extending new life to all those who would forsake their sin in order to follow His ways. As we lift Him up in worship, He will lift our burdens and bless us with peace like we’ve never known.
“Lord, we repent. We know that the temporary pleasures offered by this world will not satisfy us. Only You and Your Presence can bring total fulfillment. I pray that You would fill us up with Your strength and power to resist temptation and bless us with the courage we need to follow You. May we worship You in Spirit and in Truth and obey You out of love. In the Name of Jesus I pray all these things. Amen.”
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
–Hebrews 9:14
[1] Hebrews 11:6
[2] John 3:16
Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God 
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