November 30, 2023 7:00 pm
Nine-year-old Dan Gill arrived with his best friend Archie at their classmate’s birthday party. When the mother of the birthday boy saw Archie, however, she refused him entry. “There aren’t enough chairs,” she insisted. Dan offered to sit on the floor to make room for his friend, who was Black, but the mother said no. Dejected, Dan left their presents with her and returned home with Archie, the sting of his friend’s rejection searing his heart.
Now, decades later, Dan is a schoolteacher who keeps one empty chair in his classroom. When students ask why, he explains it’s his reminder to “always have room in the classroom for anyone.”
A heart for all people can be seen in Jesus’ welcoming life: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). This invitation may seem to contradict the “first to the Jew” scope of Jesus’ ministry (Romans 1:16). But the gift of salvation is for all people who place their faith in Jesus. “This is true for everyone who believes,” Paul wrote, “no matter who we are” (Romans 3:22 nlt).
We rejoice then at Jesus’ invitation to all: “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” (Matthew 11:29). For all seeking His rest, His open heart awaits.
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Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.
Our reading titled, God's Heart for All, was written by Patricia Rabin. Nine-year-old Dan Gill arrived with his best friend Archie at their classmate's birthday party. When the mother of the birthday boy saw Archie, however, she refused him entry. There aren't enough chairs, she insisted. Dan offered to sit on the floor to make room for his friend, who was black, but the mothers said no.
Dejected, Dan left their presence with her and returned home with Archie, the sting of his friend's rejection searing his heart. Now, decades later, Dan is a school teacher who keeps one empty chair in his classroom. When students ask why, he explains it's his reminder to always have room in the classroom for anyone. A heart for all people can be seen in Jesus' welcoming life, as he said in Matthew 11-28, Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. This invitation may seem to contradict the first-to-the-Jew scope of Jesus' ministry, but the gift of salvation is for all people who place their faith in Jesus. This is true for everyone who believes, Paul wrote in Romans 3, no matter who we are.
We rejoice, then, at Christ's invitation to all. 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 all seeking his rest, his open heart awaits. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Matthew 11, verses 27-30. All things have been committed to me by my Father.
No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 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.
Let's pray. Jesus, You accepted us just as we were. You called us just as we were. You gave all for us just as we were. And now we give our all for You because we are so grateful. Thank You for offering us the free gift of salvation and love. It's in Your name that we pray, Jesus. Amen. Thank you for listening today. My name is Rachelle Traube and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.
Whisper: medium.en / 2023-11-30 21:44:09 / 2023-11-30 21:45:39 / 2
