January 31, 2022: God Has Intentionally Commanded Us to Rest from Our Work. Do We Find the Time To?

In reading "Our Daily Bread", entitled: "Out of Breath", I was convicted myself of how often we rush to try and get things done. Everything we do is rush, rush, rush. We do not seem to find enough time for everything we want to do.

In the Old Testament, God reminds the nation of Israel twice the importance of resting on the Sabbath Day, the seventh day of the week. For instance, the commandment to keep the Sabbath in Deuteronomy 5: 12-15 is grounded on God’s act of redemption when He rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt (v. 15). But the commandment in Exodus 20: 8-11 is grounded on God’s rest on the seventh day from His work of creation (v. 11).

Both passages highlight the importance of rest in our lives. We see that God's intention in creation and redemption was an important reminder to the Israelites for their "blessed rest". We too as Christians today must find the time to rest, if not only in our demanding work, but also in our time with our Creator.

Our purpose here on this earth is to bring glory to Him and to have time to commune with Him. That was the purpose of God creating us. He wanted to have a relationship with His creation, you, and me. He wants us to sit down and talk with Him, pray to Him, and let Him know how we are feeling and what we need.

Then in the New Testament, Jesus also reminds us of the importance of resting. He says that if we find ourselves with much labor and feeling heavy laden (overloaded), we can find true rest in Him.

Matthew 11: 28-30 (NKJV)

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

PERSONNAL COMMENT:

But our "true and blessed rest" can only begin if we are willing to "absolutely surrender" all to our Lord and God. We must be willing to put Him first in our lives and in everything we do. We must not try to carry our burdens ourselves. May we all come to find the rest we truly seek for our lives...And this rest is in our Lord, Jesus Christ. Praise God for His love for us!