"COME TO ME"

Sermon Notes, July 12, 2015

Rev. Marvin Rankin

            Rev. Rankin spoke on Sunday, since Rev. Guizar was in the Emergency Room, suffering with a kidney stone.  After pastoring in Alexandria for 22 years, Rev. Rankin is now in Crozet, helping to start a new church, reaching out to some of the 60% of Americans who have no church through the arts: he makes dulcimers, and is part of the arts community in Crozet.
            The scripture for Rev. Rankin’s sermon was Matthew 11:25-30, with emphasis on verses 28-30, where Jesus says “Come to me. . . and I will give you rest.”  We find ourselves feeling down and depressed at times.  Some of us have friends who like to point out our faults.  It’s Satan’s job to accuse the brethren, to discourage us, to make us think God doesn’t care about us.
            Jesus denounced those who were proud, self-sufficient and self-righteous, and who refused his message.  This message is for us, with all our inadequacies.  Hebrews 4:15 & 16 tells us that we have a high priest who understands, because He was tempted just as we are.  Jesus understands.  He opens His arms and says “Come to me.” (v. 28)  We can see the wounds in His hands from the nails, and in his forehead from the crown of thorns.  He understands.
            Coming to Him is submitting yourself to Him.  The yoke (v. 29) is an instrument of submission.  It brings powerful animals, such as oxen or water buffalo, into control so they can do useful work.  Our yoke, as servants of Jesus, might be illness, our work, or the trials of life.  Jesus says “Follow me—my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Submit to him and He gives a wonderful promise.  It is a promise to grab hold of us and help us through.  Isaiah 40: 27-31 promises that God will renew our strength.  

He has promised rest; rest for the soul.  Rest can be a little time off in the midst of work, or it can be an extended vacation.  Jesus is saying to hand our problems to Him.  We need to learn to continually give things to God.  He’ll take our problems on Himself.  We can lean on Him.  Come to Him.