Rest: May 21, 2013

Today's Word for Tuesday MAY 21, 2013

REST

DEFINITION:

Refreshing ease or inactivity after exertion or labor; peace and quiet; freedom from care; a place of quiet; an interval of tranquility.

SCRIPTURE:

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28.

And He said to them, Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while. Mark 6:31

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

For many people life is a struggle. People are working longer and harder just to keep food on the table and a roof over their head for their families. They are weary and need a break. Rest is needed and important. God demonstrated that to us at the time that He created the world as it is written, "On the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day." If God needs to rest then we surely need to as well. God also ordained for us in the writing of the Ten Commandments that the seventh day be a day of rest and a day of worship. We need to have time to refresh ourselves not only physically but spiritually.

Jesus also needed rest when He ministered here on earth. Jesus and His disciples were followed everywhere by large crowds. It was often difficult for them to find a time and place to rest. In Mark 6:31, Jesus saw that it was time for rest and He called His disciples to come to Him to find a quiet place so that they could rest awhile.

As we walk our Christian walk there is many times that we need to stop a moment and take a rest and renew ourselves physically, mentally and spiritually. Jesus has given us a place to rest. In the verse above from Matthew, Jesus says to come to Him and He will give you rest.

Coming to Jesus changes things. We come to Jesus because we recognize we can’t carry on by ourselves alone. We acknowledge we need Him. Oswald Chambers, author of MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST, wrote: “The attitude of coming to Him is that we will let go of everything and deliberately commit all to Him.” It is only then we can experience the rest that Jesus gives.

We think of the song, "Near to the heart of God." The verse reads, "There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God. A place where sin cannot molest, near to the heart of God."

We are told that Cleland McAfee wrote this song in 1901 after the death of his two nieces from diphtheria. The words offered hope to a family that was hurting and needed rest from their burden of grief and needed spiritual refreshment that could only come from God.

Single moms probably need times of rest more than any other group of people today. They carry the heavy burden of working to support their children financially and also need to carry the burden of caring for them physically and emotionally. They are on duty 24-7 so there is little time for physical rest. If you are a single mom let us remind you that Jesus knows you are heavy laden and He calls you to come to Him for physical rest and spiritual refreshment. Just a few moments of quiet time, alone with God, reading His Word and praying will refresh your soul. 

Paul tells us in Romans 8:31-39 that nothing is able to separate us from the enduring love of the Lord. Yes, the heart of God is the place for us to rest from the pressures of life. Leave it all to Him for He cares for you, as it is written in I Peter 5:7.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in John 3:16.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

PRAYER:

Thank You for the promises from Your Word that when we come unto You that You will give us rest. Help our family to know when it is time to set aside time just to rest in Your love. Keep our hearts open so we can hear Your voice when we have a special need.