With all this rain we are getting, I would guess some of you can get pretty weary from either working in the rain, or because you can’t work when it’s raining. Now don’t get me wrong, we need rain, and in reasonable quantities it is indeed a blessing. But, I suspect, having seen photos of the flooding in Houston that even after just a few days of rain they have had more than they want.

It is certainly tiring, being stuck indoors, watching reruns of soap operas all day.

Fortunately God has some encouragement us in Matthew 11:28 “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest”.

Ah, rest, that sounds pretty good. As you probably know I like to take a nap every now an then, it helps me unwind from the stress of my job. But have you ever thought about what happens when you have rested enough? After my naps I am awake and ready to go. But If I still don’t have anything to do then something bad happen, I get bored. Of course we sometimes say we would like a little boredom from our busy schedules, but most of us don’t really mean it.

Fortunately, in verses 29 and 30 it says “All of you take up my burden and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for yourselves. For my burden is light”

So, how can we find rest if we have to take up Jesus burden? Some people think that means we have to be perfect and give up all our fun. We all know that isn’t going to happen.

But, I have some good news for you. You don’t have to be perfect. Jesus doesn’t expect us to be perfect or to give up all of our fun. What he wants is just to know us and have us know Him. The way you do that is just to talk to Him and listen when He talks to you. Once you begin to know Jesus, you come to realize what a great and powerful friend He really is. He is with you all the time, and you get to see Him work out His plan as He works through you, wherever you are and whatever you’re doing.

Some of you here know what I am talking about, and some of you have thought about it and discarded the idea because you are afraid Jesus will make you give up all the fun you are having. Well, I am here to tell you he won’t make you give up anything. He gives you a choice, every day and in every situation you still get to choose.

To close, I heard a sermon recently about how Jesus was crucified with two criminals. One of them screamed at Jesus to save himself, and the other simply said to Jesus, “remember me” when you come into Your kingdom. Jesus words to that criminal who was condemned to death were true then and they are true today. He said “today you will be with me in paradise”.

There is no simpler way to start getting to know Jesus than to say “remember me”. It is my prayer, and it can be your.