Over the years, we have all received many invitations. Sometimes they were invitations to graduations or to weddings. We may get invited out for dinner, to go to parties, or to attend sporting events. We are used to getting invitations.

Today I’m going to share the greatest invitation anyone has ever given. This invitation is always needed, but we really long for it when our futures seem bleak and hopeless. When we feel like the whole world is caving in on us, when we don’t know where to turn, or our hearts are just aching for a real, satisfying rest. Jesus gives us this invitation  in Matthew 11:28–29: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

The Lord Jesus Christ invites us to turn to Him! Jesus Christ, the God-Man says, “Come unto me!” and then He promises “I will give you rest!” I think you will agree that we all often need genuine rest for our souls, and I’m convinced that Jesus can fully provide exactly what we need.

Our biggest need for rest comes from the load of guilt we carry because of our sin. This problem is not unique to a few of us because the Bible says “ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Some people resent that statement because they are innocent of the “big” sins, like robbing banks and killing people. However, there are common everyday sins, as well, like being unreasonably angry, or deceiving those around us when we desperately want to get something, or just having a selfish attitude. And there are other sins. When life feels overwhelming, we often leave undone the things we know we should have done. If you haven’t been convinced of  the problem of sin in your life yet, remember that God will also hold you accountable for all of your thoughts, as well as your deeds.

All of those things are wrong, but they pale in comparison to our biggest sin. Are you ready for this? Our biggest sin is not what we do or don’t do. Our biggest sin is our insistence on being in control.

Wanting to be in control is our biggest problem because God has the right to tell us what to do. He not only created us, but He also stepped into this world and became one of us in order to pay the horrific penalty for our sin. This Bible verse tell us about the worship that is going on in heaven right now: “Worthy are You… for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9).

God is the One who should sit on the throne of our hearts. We should follow His every instruction. We really don’t want to allow that to happen, though. We want to be in charge of our own lives (and usually of the lives of the people around us, too).

God’s holiness demands that this sin–and all sin–be punished (see Romans 1:18). Our only hope is for a perfect person to step in and take the punishment that we deserve. Thankfully, that is exactly what Jesus did when He suffered and died on the Cross. On the cross Jesus took the punishment for your sins and for mine on Himself. He died in our place!

We know that the death of Christ successfully paid for our sin because He didn’t stay dead. He raised Himself from the dead. Because He is alive, He still invites us to “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28–29).

How do we come to Him and find this rest? John 3:16 tells us: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

We must come to Christ by faith, trusting in Him alone to forgive our sins, and believing that He has paid for our entire sin debt on the cross. If you haven’t found rest from your sin, I invite you to put your faith in Christ right now.

But that’s not all (as they say in the infomercials)! When we embrace the rest that Jesus offers, then we will also experience some amazing benefits.

For example, Christ’s forgiveness sets us free from the shackles of man’s religious rules. “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery…. You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace” (Galatians 5:1, 4).

When you answer Christ’s invitation, you can cast “all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). Following Christ also brings great joy: “Blessed

[happy!] are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered” (Romans 4:7).

I am praying that you will accept Christ’s invitation today. If you do that, or if you have any further questions, please contact me at BethelChapelChurch@gmail.com.