https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/gods-invitation-rest/ Accept God’s Invitation to Rest August 24, 2025 | Scott W. Kay © iStock.com/nullplus Share Post Email Advertise on TGC “It feels so nice to finally stop and catch my breath.” Can you remember the last time you had a moment like that? For some of us, it’s been a while. In our hard-working, highly productive culture, we can sometimes feel like exhausted swimmers swept downstream in a fast-moving river, fighting to keep our heads above water, gasping for air. We get up early and stay up late. We never waste a minute. Our schedule is full, running here, running there, running late, running to catch up, running on empty, until we collapse in utter exhaustion. Underneath the satisfaction of being hard-working, hard-playing people is a weariness that’s desperate for the pace to relent so we can rest and recharge. Deep down, we’re dying to slow down and take a break. We keep telling ours...
Jesus calling us (2)
[Matthew 4:18-22]
We all need to live a life that follows Jesus closer and closer. I would like to learn a lesson by thinking
about two things.
First, what must we do
to follow Jesus?
We must hear the voice of Jesus calling us: “… Come, follow me … and I will make you fishers of men” (Mt.
4:19). This is what Jesus said to the
fishermen when he saw them casting their nets (v. 18). When Jesus called them, he gave them a word of
promise. The word of that promise is, “I
will make you fishers of men” (v. 19).
Jesus is giving us a higher
calling. We can know this by looking at
the fact that when Jesus called Peter and Andrew, who were fishermen by
profession (v. 18), he promised to make them fishers of men (v. 19). Jesus is calling you to “follow me.” Jesus is giving you a higher calling. Jesus is giving you the higher calling than
your job. Jesus is calling you to be
fishers of men. He wants to use you to
save dying souls by sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore, when we hear the voice of Jesus
saying to us, “Follow me,” we must immediately leave behind the things we should
leave behind and follow Jesus. Peter and
Andrew immediately left their nets and followed Jesus (v. 20). James and John immediately left the boat and
their father and followed Jesus (v. 22).
Second,
how should we follow Jesus? What is the
life of following Jesus?
(1) The life of following Jesus is to live as the salt of
the world and taste its saltiness in this world.
Look at Matthew 5:13 – “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can
it be made salty again? It is no longer
good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.” The role of salt is to flavor food and also
to keep food from spoiling. Likewise, we
must, as the salt of the world, live a life that is flavored with the gospel of
Jesus Christ in this world and that also prevents corruption in this society. To do that, we must not only preach the
gospel of Jesus Christ with our lips, but also live a life worthy of the gospel
with our lives.
(2)
The life of
following Jesus is living as the light of the world, illuminating the light of
good deeds in this world.
Look at Matthew 5:14-16: “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill
cannot be hidden. Neither do people
light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it
gives light to everyone in the house. In
the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good
deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Jesus is telling us, “In the same way, let your light shine before men.” Just as people light a lamp and put it on its
stand, not under the bowl, so that it can shine on everyone in the house, so
Jesus' disciples should let their light shine before people in this world. Here, the light we need to shine on the people
of the world is good deeds (v. 16). We,
as the light of the world, shine our good deeds into the world, so that the
world may see our good deeds and glorify our Heavenly Father. I have thought of this good deeds in three
ways:
(a)
Good deeds are living a life of conformity in
words and deeds.
Look at Matthew 5:19 – “Anyone who breaks one of the least of these
commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the
kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be
called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
(b)
Good deeds are living a life of love.
What is life of love? It is not to
be angry with our brothers (v. 22). And
the life of loving our brothers is to be at peace with them (vv. 23-24). And the life of love is not only to love our
brothers but also our enemies (vv. 43-44). As Christians, we should not only love those whom
we love (v. 46). Such love is a love
that even non-believers know how to do (v. 47). We must love our enemies just as Jesus loved such
enemies and sinners like us.
(c)
Good deeds are living holy lives.
Look at Matthew 5:27-28: “You have heard that it
was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But
I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed
adultery with her in his heart.” We are
God's holy people. Therefore, we must be
holy just as God is holy. And in that
holy life there must be no adultery (v. 27).
In the Old Testament, God commanded not to commit adultery. But in the New Testament, Jesus says that
anyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her
in his heart (v. 28).
Today, Jesus is calling you through this word of God. Jesus is telling you, “Follow me.” And Jesus is giving you the promise: “I will
make you fishers of men.” Jesus is
telling you, “You are the salt of the world” and “the light of the world.” We must taste the world with the gospel of
Jesus Christ. And we must shine the light
of Jesus Christ in this dark world. We
need to let the world see our good deeds, as Jesus commands, so that they may
glorify our Heavenly Father. I hope and
pray that all of us will live a life of conformity in words and deeds, a life
of love and a holy life.
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