Notes of Faith February 4, 2026
Pastor’s Pen Pulpit
September 17, 2000
“COME UNTO ME”
Matthew 11:28-30
Come unto Me, all you 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.
There are several invitations given by Jesus in the Gospels. They are given to different classes of people. The invitation given in Matthew 11:28-30 is directed to all who are weary (lit. who work to exhaustion) and are burdened down. The promise is that of rest.
In the context of Matthew this primarily is speaking to those burdened down with the Mosaic Law (c.f. Acts 15:10). The law was a heavy burden borne by Israel since Sinai.
By wider application this refers to the burden of sin. It is true that sin is a hard taskmaster. And then there are those who are burdened down with the cares of life.
There is no rest quite like the rest provided by the grace that is in Jesus Christ, our Lord. He invites us to take His yoke upon us and learn of Him. The analogy is beautiful. In Israel the farmers trained young oxen by yoking them up with an older, experienced ox that was well seasoned in pulling heavy loads. The harness was attached to the older ox so that he pulled the bulk of the load. The remainder of the harness was then draped loosely over the young, inexperienced ox so that as he walked beside the older one, he wasn’t pulling any of the load.
What a beautiful picture of how Jesus wants us to take our burdens all by Himself. So we walk alongside Him in the hectic affairs of everyday life. We learn what a kind, gentle Saviour He is - willing to bear our load all by Himself.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, are you bearing a load today that is weighing you down? You do not think you can go on much longer? If you are, please stop trying to carry it yourself. Put it on Him. He can carry it much better than you.
Casting all your care upon Him for He cares for you (I Peter 5:7).
God bless!
Love to you all,
Pastor Charles Covington
Rom 8:13
If you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Rom 13:14
put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
2 Cor 10:3-4
though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
Gal 5:16-24
walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ gave His life on the cross after all the sin of mankind was placed on Him…
2 Cor 5:21
21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
We must see Christ Jesus bearing our sin when a thought or action of sin comes our way. This will strengthen us and give us opportunity to repent, to turn away from the flesh and live by the Spirit of God within us. Let us pursue the Spirit of life and fruitfulness for the glory of God!
Pastor Dale