Beyond Scripture To Him

When we think of Yahshua, Our Savior, we often think of a Loving Shepherd, beckoning us to return to Him, as a flock of sheep, responding to their Guardian’s call.

“On The Way,” by Hink Hinkle

The Shepherd Calling the Sheep

So, Matthew 11 is quite familiar to us…

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Matthew 11:28-29

How many times have we heard this passage? In prayer? At altar calls? In sermons? In Bible studies?

It is ubiquitous.

It’s the comforting rallying cry, especially if/ when we are weary spiritually, or, at the very least, sleep-deprived…

Scripture, to most of us out there, is regarded as something powerful.

Wise.

Life-giving.

We, again, can all nod our heads at Isaiah 55:9-11:

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

We believe The Word. We accept that it works. Scripture is a must-have.

Okay, so now I’m gonna go somewhere a bit out there.

Please don’t come for me, with lit torches, calling me a heretic…

I have been reading Scripture for decades. This is not to get a Brownie Button.

My tour of duty as a Girl Scout has beaucoup badges on it. Thanks. I’m set.

We hear, over and over again, that, in reading Scripture, we can come across the same passage repeatedly, and it doesn’t affect us.

And then, one day, Whammo!

Rhema Word. Angel Choir. Lightning and Thunder.

It hits. It just hits.

Well, I had that happen to me a few months ago, “while reading The Bible.”

And the attention-grabbing thing about this Scripture, in particular?

It mentioned Scripture.

How’s that for a mind tilt?

But more than that, it also mentioned Yahshua.

Our Savior. Our Shepherd.

I don’t think this Scripture gets “as much press” as that of Matthew 11:28-29.

But I think it should.

In my opinion, they should be “companion scriptures,” studied and reflected on together.

You cannot have one Truth without its Twin Truth?

Okay, I know. I am keeping you in suspense.

So, what is this scripture?

Behold…

“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.”
John 5:39-40

Whammo!

See what I mean?

Okay, for fun and edification, just humor me. Let’s Twin these scriptures and see what comes up.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Matthew 11:28-29

“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.”
John 5:39-40

See anything here?

Hmmm.

What popped up for me was yet another Scripture. It is probably in the mid-range, or “semi-famous” category of well-known Scriptures…

“And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.”

Matthew 6:7

Uh…OUCH!

That was a little of some of what I felt. Convicted, maybe?

Yeah, I know Scripture is real, alive, powerful. I know it accomplishes much.

We are told that The Most High IS something powerful, connected to His Name and His Word…

“I will worship toward Thy holy temple, and praise Thy Name for Thy lovingkindness and for Thy Truth: for Thou hast magnified Thy Word above all Thy Name.”

Psalm 138:2

“If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Who He is.”

2 Timothy 2:13

So, what’s the sticking point, then?

Yahshua is MORE than THE WORD.

And yes, He Is that.

“these are which testify of me.”

Scripture testifies. Yes, it does.

But He Is a real Individual.

He took on the human being suit, walking around in it, so that He could experience empathy at our humanness.

He is Deity. All powerful.

But humanity?

Well, that required acknowledgement of weakness, frailty, vulnerability… NEED.

Human beings are helpless, needy, and sometimes, stupid sheep.

There is a reason we are referred to as that animal and not a sexy, sleek Jaguar, for instance.

Yeah.

We don’t have it together. We need a Shepherd.

Cue The Shepherd, then… and His “Come to me” call.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Matthew 11:28-29

Scripture is wonderful, in its testifying of our Savior/Shepherd.

But it should never be the “vain imagination” we take for granted, replacing real acceptance, real acknowledgement, and real relationship WITH THE REAL INDIVIDUAL OF YAHSHUA.

(“Shouty Caps,” there, so you know I’m fired up about this).

And, yeah, I’m convicted, too.

After all…

“…But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.”

This speaks to more than just a one-time altar call.

This is about consistent relationship, day after day.
Do we “Come to Him, that we may have life?”

DO WE?

Think about it. When was the last time you truly did that?

I’m not picking on you. I fall short here… a lot.

I do not come to Him and receive life as often as I should.

Call it being in a rush…

Feeling inconvenienced…

Just not feeling it…

Or leaning too much on a “vain imagination” of a quick Bible verse, and then I am on to something that I feel is REALLY important.

Yeah.

Abba. Yahshua.

(John 10:30)…

Forgive me.

Let’s face it. We all need a lot of help in the “Coming to Him” department.

No one has a lock on it.

We all fall short.

So, let’s pray for help in this area.

I need it. How about you?

ABBA-

I come to You, in The Name of Yahshua, My Savior.

I admit it. I do not always “come to Him, to have life.”

Father, Forgive me.

I can come up with all kinds of excuses and reasons.

None of these things carry weight in eternity.

I need Your Help, to truly, constantly, “Come to Him.”

Yahshua.

Thank You for having Him die for me.

I’m having trouble, right now, living for Him the way You desire me to live.

Forgive me and help me.

I come, therefore, not just to the Scriptures that testify of Him, but to Him directly, honestly, right now.

I know that I cannot hide from You. You know all. You know everything about me.

Help me, then, to truly hear, seek, and come to Him constantly.

Thank You.

I believe You will help me to love, live for, and be intimately connected with Your Beloved Son.

I receive it all, by faith, now.

In The Name of Yahshua,

Amen.

Copyright © 2026 by Sheryle Cruse