“Give It Up”
By Rev. Everett R. Kimble, Sr.
Matthew 11:28, 29 – “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” (KJV)
When I first joined the NAVY the very first thing I had to do was go through Basic Training, better known as “Bootcamp.” Bootcamp is designed to quickly transform the new recruit from civilian life to the life of a soldier. It was eight weeks of grueling work and exercise, but there was one particular day called 4/5 day which marked the halfway point. Our commanding officers burst into the barracks at around 5 am screaming and shouting for us to get up and out, beginning a cycle of training like none of the others. 4/5 day was the day that separated the men from the boys and most of the guys that did not make it through dropped out during this time. For those of us who pressed on, we received the welcomed revelation that things over the next few weeks would be much easier to endure. It was a long eight weeks, but at the end, though there was still a lot to learn, we had successfully transitioned into military life.
If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your savior, you have enlisted as a soldier of the Lord. What we don’t often realize is that our old nature becomes completely at odds with our new nature. We immediately began a spiritual boot-camp and it can quickly become the most grueling time of our lives because there are forces that do not want us to make the transition. Life as you know will come unraveled, pressures and tensions will mount until you get to the point where you feel as if you can’t take it anymore. Many of you have been there, and some of you are there right now. It is your 4/5 day and here is your encouragement. You don’t have to push back and press through on your own, God is with you. Everything that you have had to go through was designed to get you to the point where you would surrender and give the reigns of your life to Jesus.
He simply asks; “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” A yoke is something that you put on not hold on too. Wearing it means you are giving control not taking control. Jesus is calling you today to give Him control, and it is there, under His command that you will find rest for your soul. Jesus knows exactly where you are and where He needs you to go. Stop fighting and follow where He leads. It is wonderful to be in the Army of the Lord, and it is good to know that He has it all under control.
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Have a wonderful and peaceful Friday!
