THE MEEKNESS OF CHRIST
Devotion #11 of 13
"I am meek and lowly in heart" -- Jesus
YOU SHALL FIND REST
An anecdote for labor
Rest is the anecdote for "labor" and being "heavy laden." It comes when we "cease from our own works" (Heb 4:10). In this text, "our own works" are endeavors to accomplish righteousness independently of divine influence. All such efforts are vain and pointless. It simply is not possible for any one to be justified "by the deeds of the Law" (Rom 3:20). In fact, "justification" is declared to be "without the deeds of the law." "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law" (Rom 3:28). Justification is here equated with "rest unto your souls"; the "rest" of faith. As it is written, "For we which have believed do enter into rest, as He said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into My rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world" (Heb 4:3).
How is such a thing possible? It is because Jesus is "meek and lowly in heart." We no longer aspire to the "rest" in our own strength. Jesus has brought it to us, and bids us to come to Him so He might impart it to us. Notice; it is a rest that is FOUND. "Ye shall FIND rest unto (for) your souls." This was not found at Mount Sinai, although the people came to it. Nor, indeed, was it found in the tabernacle or the temple, although the "divine service" (Rom 9:4; Heb 9:1) was there accomplished. It remained for Jesus Himself to give us rest. His meekness and lowliness makes that rest attainable, praise His holy Name!
Times of refreshing
Those that come to Jesus will soon find "times of refreshing" sent from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:19). This is the refreshing "rest" promised by Isaiah; "To whom He said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear" (Isa 28:12). Those who learn from Christ no longer labor to be accepted by God. They are "accepted" in the Son (Eph 1:6). They no longer work to obtain righteousness; it is imputed to them through their faith (Rom 4:11,24). They have found "rest" from the condemning burden of the law and the goading of a guilty conscience! And why so? Because Jesus is "meek and lowly in heart."