"Consider Him"

"Consider Him"

       

     Our memory verse for the week is one of the most familiar passages in Scripture.  It must also become of the most believed and obeyed mandates of Scripture by every believer.

      "Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me.  For I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).

   Walking with God in a fallen world brings all of us to times and places of spiritual weariness.  We have enemies, or "many adversaries" as the Apostle Paul declared (I Corinthians 16:9).  We "fight the good fight of faith" and like any combatant in a conflict, we frequently feel in soul and body the challenges of engaging in battle (I Timothy 6:12).  We must therefore consistently heed our Lord's calling to "Come" and to "Take My yoke."  

    First, we "come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).  Obviously, an implied promise awaits us in the command to avail ourselves of mercy and grace at the Savior's throne.  Namely, we do not have to remain weary in heart and mind.  Spiritual strengthening awaits us at our Lord's seat of grace.  'Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" (Ephesians 6:10).  Like those charging stations for electric cars we see these days in various public venues, the Christian has access to the power of God, that is, the power that created and sustains the universe, and that raised the Lord Jesus from the dead.  When weary of heart and tired in mind, we need to "come boldly" in the confidence that the rightly named "throne of grace" is occupied by One who never fails those who trust and submit to Him.

    Regarding submission, we can consider this calling in two ways.  First, our Lord Himself is under submission to His Father.  While equal in substance and being as a member of the Trinity, the Lord Jesus nevertheless lives under His Father's authority.  "My Father is greater than I" (John 14:28).  The Master we serve therefore knows all about submission and can lead and enable us to wear the same yoke, His yoke, of devoted obedience to God.  We can also view the matter in terms of our obedience to Christ.  We serve the Great Servant.  Such recognition makes obedience to God a different matter than often considered.  Rather than a tyrannical reign, the Lord Jesus executes His authority in our lives with a gentle firmness that knows perfectly what it means to serve in love, and to submit in heartfelt devotion.  He can teach us how to do this ourselves.  And He will be our strength and enabling as He does.  "He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake" (Psalm 23:3).

   We will become tired along the path of righteousness in this lifetime.  We do not, however, have to remain tired.  "I will give you rest" promises the perfectly faithful One who "cannot lie" (Titus 1:2).  This we must believe, first because it is true, and then because we have far too much to do for God's glory and the blessing of others to remain weary.  The writer of Hebrews closes our consideration by calling us to…

"Consider Him… lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."

(Hebrews 12:3)

"Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which Thou hast redeemed: Thou hast guided them in Thy strength unto Thy holy habitation."

 (Exodus 15:3).

Weekly Memory Verse

    "Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me.  For I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

(Matthew 11:28-30)