TLIC FAMILY. DAY 136. MAY 15: COME TO ME.

THINK TOGETHER

Have you ever been really tired? What did you do?

READ TOGETHER

Do you know what an invitation is? Have you ever been invited to something? Maybe a birthday party or a friend’s house for an activity. Or maybe you’ve been invited to share something with someone, like a tasty desert, or a fun game or toy. Everyone loves to be invited don’t they? In the Bible Jesus gives us the greatest invitation ever. Here it is:

Matthew 11:28-30.  ²⁸ Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ 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. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Jesus isn’t inviting us to take a nap; he’s offering us rest for our soul. Your soul is the inside part of you that thinks and feels and makes choices. Your soul is invisible. Your soul is super important because it is where you decide what you will believe and what you will do about what you believe.

But why does your soul need rest? Because, just like your body, your soul can get tired too. It can start to believe the wrong things about God and about Jesus. Your soul might start to think that you have to earn God’s love by being good or by doing things (laboring) for God. Soon you start to think that you’re not good enough or that maybe God doesn’t like you anymore.  

But Jesus says come to me and find rest for your soul. How? By trusting that God always loves you no matter what. By knowing that no matter what we do or don’t do, God will still save us and take us to heaven when we trust in Jesus. And that means no more being tired in your soul. It means rest for your soul forever.

Because of Jesus we never have to earn God’s love again.

With Jesus we can always have rest in our soul.

DO SOMETHING TOGETHER

Do something restful together as a family. Maybe a “sleepover” while you watch a movie. Or play a game together that isn’t a competition. Or even just take some time to lay down and think in complete quiet. Talk about how rest is an act of faith because when we rest were letting God know that we are OK with not proving ourselves because we trust that God has everything under control.

PRAY TOGETHER

Jesus, thank you that I never have to earn your love or my salvation. Help me rest in my soul because of this great truth. Amen.