Rest
Matthew 11:28–30 (NASB95)
28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 “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. 30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
When we think of rest, we tend to think of sitting down or stopping activity. When the Bible talks about rest it talks about it in several ways. One is the cessation of labor, but another has to do with the end of chaos. Weary and heavy-laden doesn’t sound like you need a nap, it sound like you need some help. Jesus wants to come alongside and end the chaos of pride and self sufficiency (I don’t need any help from anybody especially God) and self loathing (who could ever love me, I am so messed up). That’s chaos and it comes from the father of lies. When God gave Israel rest from their enemies, it wasn’t so they could sleep in late. It was so they could carry on unhindered by the chaos of an enemy in their midst. They could plant crops and enjoy the labor of their harvest. They could marry and have families. It was the divine enablement to accomplish God’s purpose and will for their lives. Jesus comes to end the chaos, not lull us to sleep.
Ephesians 5:14 (NASB95) 14 For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.”
I love you, Pastor Randy