"I WILL GIVE YOU REST"

“I WILL GIVE YOU REST”

By Pastor Mark Taylor

“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”  Matthew 11:28-30.

A “yoke” is an instrument used to connect two animals together to get a heavy and hard job done.  The Lord Jesus Christ wants to hook up with you to make your life easier and more enjoyable.

Why is rest so important? For several reasons. One of the most important functions of rest is to allow us to listen to God. We become so busy doing things for Christ that we forget to simply be with Christ. We get tunnel vision, becoming so fixated on completing our list of assigned tasks that we have no time for anything else but work. But somehow, the list of tasks never gets any shorter. For every one we finish, two more rise up to take their place. . We begin to run on autopilot. Instead of being guided by the Holy Spirit, we find ourselves being controlled by emotion; by habit and circumstance.

"The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ’Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place." – Mark 6:30-32

One of the striking things about these passages is the fact that Jesus withdrew from the crowds just when he was most in demand. There were thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of people waiting for Jesus to heal them, to teach them, to bless them.  The need was great.  Jesus understood that the need was endless. But in order to accomplish the purpose for which God had sent Him, he had to remain spiritually strong. And that required regular times of prayer and meditation, regular times of rest and recuperation. 

"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: ’Everyone is looking for you!’" – Mark 1:35-36

Not only did our Lord set an example of rest for us, but God the Father did as well.  “So the creation of the heavens and earth and everything in them was completed.  On the seventh day, having finished His task, God rested from all His work.” (Genesis 2: 1-3)

Time away from our labors helps us to regain our perspective and realign our priorities. It helps us to remember what’s most important. It reminds us that the things of God are eternal, while the things of this life are temporary.

We are not merely the sum of what we accomplish. We are not merely a means of production, cogs in a machine.  Yes, our work has value, but it’s not our work that gives us value. Our value is inherent within us; it comes from the fact that God made us and gave his Son for us.  We have great worth, regardless of how much or how little we accomplish. We have value because God is our Father, and because in Christ we are his children. “Even the hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear not because you are of more value that many sparrows who are  not forgotten before God?...Not one of them shall fall on the ground without your Heavenly Father being aware of it. (Luke 12:6-7, Matthew 10-29-31).

  Schedule or find a time by yourself and meditate on something relaxing to you. Listen to music.  Free your mind from thoughts of problems or projects.

Just do nothing.  That is difficult for some people, but it is an important part of resting.Take a walk in a park or in your neighborhood. Turn off your cell phone, TV, and other distractions that will keep you from getting the most from your “nothing” time.  Take this time to pray, read a small portion of scripture or a short devotion out of a book like “Daily Bread”.

Remember the source of the healing you will receive from getting rest.  It is the Lord Jesus Christ.  He can speak to you during these times of rest.  He can restore strength to you and give you the desire to be better. “They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

Moses received some good advice from his father-in law when he saw Moses working from sun-up to sun-down.  “... The thing that you do is not good.  You will surely wear away both you and this people that is with you, for this thing is too heavy for you, and you are not able to perform it by yourself alone.”  (Exodus 18: 13, 17-18).

The Lord Jesus is offering to help you get some quality rest if you will come to Him.