Grace Found in Coming to Jesus
Grace flows when we remain under the source—Jesus Himself.
Devotional Credit:
Day by Day by Grace – Bob Hoekstra
Photo Credit:
Unsplash
In this devotional, Bob Hoekstra points us to the simple yet life-giving truth that grace flows from relationship, not ritual. It is not a formula, a checklist, or a religious performance that fills us with the grace of God. Rather, it is the continual coming to Jesus, moment by moment, in humility and trust. This is how grace becomes more than a doctrine—it becomes our daily experience.
Hoekstra reminds us that Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 11:28–29 is not merely for the weary sinner at the point of salvation, but for the believer who needs rest from striving. To “take His yoke” is to walk in step with Him, sharing His life, and allowing His strength to replace our own. We do not graduate from this invitation; we grow deeper into it.
From Isaiah’s call to “come to the waters” to Peter’s exhortation to “come to Him as to a living stone,” Scripture shows that this posture of coming is the ongoing pattern of the Christian life. Coming to Jesus is how we find forgiveness, refreshment, strength, and transformation. It is how rivers of living water flow from within us—it is His life expressed through us.
The invitation is as relevant now as it was to those who first heard it. Whether we are burdened by guilt, weighed down by religious effort, or simply longing for more of God’s presence in our daily walk, the answer is the same: Come to Jesus. Again and again. Always and only to Him.
Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
I am your rest and your refreshment. You were never meant to carry the weight of your own life, for I have already carried it for you. When you come to Me, I lift the burden. When you take My yoke, you find that I am the One who pulls the load while you walk beside Me in peace.
You will not find grace in your own striving, but in Me. My grace forgives your sin, washes away your guilt, and gives you the power to live in freedom. My grace is not a reservoir that runs dry; it flows without end from My life in you. I call you to keep coming—not because you are far away, but because your nearness to Me is where you are most alive.
Come to Me when your soul is thirsty, and I will give you living water. Come to Me when you are weary, and I will be your rest. Come to Me when the noise of life grows loud, and I will quiet you with My love. You are My beloved, chosen and precious. Stay close, and My grace will be the air you breathe and the light you walk in.
Scripture References: Matthew 11:28–29, 2 Corinthians 8:9, Isaiah 45:22–24, Isaiah 55:1–3, John 7:37–38, 1 Peter 2:4–5, Colossians 2:6–7, Hebrews 4:16
Real-Life Analogy
Think of standing under a warm shower after a long day. The water doesn’t trickle because you strain for it; it flows because you remain under the source. Step away, and the warmth no longer covers you. Step back in, and it does. Grace is like that. It is not earned or manufactured—it is received by staying in the place where it flows freely, in Jesus Himself.
Today, when the pressures of life push you toward self-effort or anxiety, pause and turn toward Him. You might say, “Lord, I trust You to be my life and to work through me right now.” Let Him carry what you cannot. Rest in the flow of His grace.
Prayer of Confidence
Lord, thank You that Your grace is always present and always enough. You have made the way for me to come without fear, and You welcome me into Your rest. I affirm that my life is not sustained by my effort, but by Your life within me. Thank You that I can walk today yoked with You, knowing that You will lead, carry, and express Your life through me.