Come up to Higher Ground
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am
gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my
yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11: 28-30)
Often, as I gaze out the kitchen window in the mornings, there is a bird,
usually a dove, perched on a palm tree branch that’s yet unfurled.
From that tippy top vantage point, he can see clearly, for quite a ways, in
all directions. The branch might bend and sway, but he doesn’t leave until
he’s ready to take flight again.
I meet people from all walks of life, in varied situations, who seem so
tired. Tired. All the time. I feel that way too, sometimes. Not the cheerful
lighthearted way that we could be….. wearing the world, and its’ cares, as a
light garment, and not a dark consuming cloud enveloping us.
We have the promises in the Bible. We can say and do all the things to walk
more freely, and lightly. This is one I really like, in the eleventh chapter
of Matthew. There are many translations and various meanings for the word
“come” in scripture’; e.g. come up. And “yoke” can be something shared by a
pair, two with one purpose, or task.
Jesus, our friend, and Saviour, is saying to us, Hey! You don’t have to
stay there! Come on up here…..with me. It is better up here! You don’t have
to carry all the junk! Leave it; leave it to me. I’ll take care of it. Just
come up to higher ground. The view is great here!
Today, my plan is to purpose and decide to come to Jesus, to come up to that
higher place, with Him., and have peace ‘in the midst’.
Thank you, Lord, for Your offer, and Your promise! That is good news.
That is definitely good news.
Sally Ireland Kennedy
Sally Ireland Kennedy is the author of “52 Little Parables from Ireland”, “Words from the Heart”, and “Irish Thursdays”. She lives in south Florida, with her husband, Ben. You can visit her website at http://www.sallyikennedy.com /