"Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
God's heart often aches, too, just like yours and mine. He is such a caring God that He shares our heavy loads.
We know this because we find it so in the life of Jesus. His heart ached when told about the imprisonment of John the Baptizer, His relative and friend. His heart ached when he reflected on two unrepenting towns, Chorazin and Bethsaida.
His aching heart drove Him to prayer, and strengthened by prayer, He was moved to speak to all who, like Him, experienced an aching heart! "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
The very aching heart of God seen in Jesus, His Son, reaches out to embrace all who likewise hurt, whether over a son or daughter who will not yield to the Gospel or for any who are imprisoned in sin and darkness and will not repent.
And because God's heart aches with us, we who are burdened down are given relief and rest, for we know that He who is able to perform all things is likewise concerned, and we can move our heavy loads onto His broad back. Jesus, our Friend, bears all our sins and griefs.
PRAYER: Thank You, Savior, for sharing the heavy load of my heart. I know that You will give me peace and rest. Amen.
(Taken from "Words of Promise," copyright 1996 (out of print), Concordia Publishing House. For information on other devotional materials, call 1-800-325-3040.)
Today's Bible Readings: Jeremiah 51, 30 Hebrews 7
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