A Devotion from John A Broadus

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened … and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
—Matthew 11:28–30

The invitations of the gospel are addressed to all; the Good News is to be preached to all creation. God commands all people to repent; he promises that whoever believes in Jesus shall have eternal life—“the free gift of the water of life” (Rev. 22:17).

And it is worth observing that the gospel invitations are so varied. The same bountiful and gracious Being who suits the blessings of his providence to our various wants also adapts the invitations of his mercy to our varied characters and conditions. Are people enemies to God? They are invited to be reconciled. Have they hearts harder than a millstone? He offers to take away the stone and give a heart of flesh. Are they rushing madly along the way that leads to death? He calls upon them to turn, “Turn! Turn …! Why will you die?” (Ezek. 33:11). Are people hungering? He tells them of the bread that came down from heaven. Are they thirsty? He calls them to the water of life. And are they burdened with sin? He invites them to come to Jesus for rest. It is those who are bowed down beneath a load of sin who are here especially invited to come to Jesus.

Sin is a grievous burden, and no one can feel its weight without wishing to be relieved of it. Aren’t there many among you who have often felt heavy with the load of your transgressions and the burden of your sinfulness? If you do not all feel so, it is because your perceptions are blunted, you do not see things as they are. You have been servants of sin for a long time—haven’t you found it a hard master? You have been wearing the yoke of Satan these many years—haven’t you found that his yoke is indeed galling and grievous? How many things you have done at his bidding that you knew to be wrong? How often you have stifled the voice of your conscience and listened to the suggestions of the Tempter! How often you have toiled to gratify sinful desires and found that, still, the craving was left unfilled!

Let all, then, who are burdened with sin and sinfulness, who long to know how their transgressions may be forgiven and their souls saved, all who are inquiring what they must do, let them hear the gracious words of the text, “Come to me.”

John a Broadus