Mon., 7/1/19 Devotion (Matt. 11:28)

Today's encouragement comes from Matthew 11:28, where we read these words which fell from our Savior's lips:

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

St. Augustine’s maxim is so true: "Our souls are restless until we find our rest in You [God]." Are our souls "on the move" today? Are they restless, ill at ease, and unsettled? If so, then we need to come to Jesus. If not, then we are resting in Jesus. Any kind of existence that does not love Christ first and fore-most will be characterized by hearts that "move around," like planets in the night sky. Saving faith in Christ causes them to rest, like stars in the firma-ment.

A soul at rest can pray to God, and can concentrate on what is truly impor-tant. A soul that is restless can only do a lot of work and activity, hoping to as-suage its guilt. God only accepts people that come to Jesus, and rest in Him.

[Puritan quote of the day: "This may be a great comfort to you: God does not expect you to root out all presence of sin, but only to keep down the reigning of sin in you.” —Christopher Love, in, "The Mortified Christian"]