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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

MATTHEW 11:28-30

THE INVITATION

Are you stressed? Does your life seem to be in constant conflict? Do you sometimes feel as if there is a burden on your back--a heaviness in your soul--that continually weighs you down?

If you are struggling to cope with a life that is confusing and out of control, take heart. If you are searching for rest for your soul, there is good news. Jesus is offering a personal invitation to you.

WHY IS REST SO DIFFICULT TO FIND?

The work of this world always seems more important than Jesus's invitation in Matthew 11:28. Even though you desire to give your heart and mind a break, it is nearly impossible to turn away from the priorities set in place by the culture you live in.

Too often, people search for comfort and rest in the form of drugs, unhealthy relationships, self-help books, and even vacations. But these are often just an escape from reality, creating empty promises of relief from the stress of the real world. The rest offered by Jesus Christ is one that lasts for eternity.

WHERE CAN I FIND REST?

God's Word (the Bible) says that only a personal relationship with Jesus Christ can bring you true rest for your soul. Jesus calls for you to come to him and he will give you rest. This means that you must turn aside from relying on your own efforts--your attempts to measure up by your own power--and trust solely in Jesus.

HOW CAN JESUS GIVE ME REST?

In Matthew 11:29, Jesus says, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart." He welcomes you to cast your worries and fears upon him and to believe that he has already paid the price for your sin, your burdens, and your guilt. He will give you rest by promising forgiveness of every sin you ever committed, or ever will, and eternal life with him in the new heavens and new earth when he returns.

WHAT MUST I DO?

To receive this wonderful peace and rest that Jesus promises, you must understand and accept the following six important biblical truths:

1. All people are sinful. Sin comes in the form of the bad things that we say, think, and do. Sins are even the good things done with selfish motivations. All sins are committed in the presence of God, who is holy.

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

2. Sin is so serious to God that death is the necessary and just result.

"For the wages (payment) of sin is death." (Romans 6:23)

3. There is no way you could do anything good enough to save yourself.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

4. Although you deserve to die for your own sins, Jesus Christ (who never sinned) died for you. He was your substitute. He made the payment for your sins when he died on the cross and rose again.

"Christ died for our sins . . . he was buried . . . he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures." (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

5. You must place your trust, not in anything good you have done or will do, but only in what Christ has already done for you.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

6. You cannot earn eternal life; it is a gift that you either accept or reject. When you receive God's gift, you become his child, and you are adopted into his family.

"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:12)

If you've already trusted Christ as your Savior, here are some things you can do to grow in your relationship with him:

- Read the Bible to learn more about God and his plan for your life.

- Pray to God often to share your joys and problems and to confess your sins.

- Attend a Bible-teaching church where you can worship God and get to know other Christians.

- Share your faith. You have just received a wonderful gift. Tell someone!

The chapters have been written to help new followers of Jesus lay solid foundations for a healthy and rich Christian life. They also provide a refresher course in what it means to be a disciple for those who have been following Jesus for many years.