Your Daily Devotional for May 18, 2006

May 18, 2006

 

God’s Rideshare Program

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

“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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

 

Matthew 11:28-30

 

Many of us can remember the tremendous gas shortage of the late 1970’s. Americans were not used to the rationing of any commodity, but at this time there were mile-long lines of people waiting for gas. Of course, once the gas embargo ended, the prices went up, and shortly thereafter we began to hear about “carpool lanes” and “Rideshare Programs.” Today, as you travel along any of our urban highways you will see signs advertising these same programs.

 

Rideshare programs really do make a lot of sense. Commuters who take advantage of these programs will soon learn its value economically as a lot of money will be saved in gas. It will also reduce wear and tear on the commuter’s car because the average miles driven will be reduced drastically.  Also, if the driver is trustworthy, passengers might even enjoy a bit of rest as they make their commute to and from work each day. Yet, despite all of the benefits, the vast majority of commuters ignore these rideshare programs because they are too independent.

 

When we consider the spiritual journey that we are on, we see from the Bible that God offered us a rideshare program over two thousand years ago. The moment someone trusts Christ as Saviour, God’s Holy Spirit takes residence in their heart and invites the Christian to take His yoke upon him, to partner up with Him, and to share the ride.

 

Yoking up with the Lord and abiding daily with Him makes a lot of sense. Christians who take advantage of this offer from the Lord will soon learn its value economically. As we learn wise stewardship and the joy of giving, we will know the truth Paul gave to the church of Philippi in Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

 

Abiding with the Lord will also prevent wear and tear on our lives. Christians who walk with God will be spared the devastation that sin brings to individuals and families. Finally, trusting in the Lord gives Christians rest. This rest is not exclusively a physical rest but a spiritual rest as Jesus said, “…ye shall find rest unto your souls..”  Yet, the vast majority of people ignore His invitation.

 

Even people who are saved fail to truly yoke up in a daily walk with Jesus – We are too independent to depend on the Lord Jesus Christ. Even though the Lord says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,” we never stop to consider where God would want us to go, and we continue to go our own way at our own pace.

 

As Jeremiah, the prophet of God, said, “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” Notice the response of the people at the end of that verse, “But they said, We will not walk therein.” (Jeremiah 6:16)

 

God is calling you to come to Him and to learn of Him today. “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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Will you experience the value of God’s rideshare program today?

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