REST
I have a question for you: When is the last time you took a day off?
That one should be pretty easy, of course there are some of you out there who are analyzing the question. And, of course, the question to be asked is: what do I mean by DAY OFF?
So let me ask the question more directly: When is the last time you took a day off -> TO REST?
There is a huge difference between simply taking a day off, and taking a day to rest.
No doubt you have taken many days off
• Go to the ball game
• Anniversary
• Work in the yard
• Family business
• Take kids to doctor
• Perhaps you were sick
o That really doesn’t count as a day off to rest
? That’s a day off to recover health!
? And if you did not take that day off the consequences could be high!
• Decreased health over a long period of time
• Could get worse
• Perhaps the injury could get worse
o Increased medical needs
o Perhaps surgery
Now why is it that we can figure out really quick that we need to take time off when we are sick, or exhausted, physically – but we seem to have NO CLUE SPIRITUALLY?
• Its that time of year –
o Vacation
? Summer! You have to take vacation with the family
o VBS
? There is no doubt that this is rewarding, but it is time consuming and exhausted
o Work
? Yeah, some of us still have this whole job thing we have to do
• And still do VBS, VACATION, yard work
o CAMPS
? Those things
o Plenty of ministry things that need done
Summer is a time of fun for kids, and extreme time management for adults.
Have you ever thought that you needed a vacation from your vacation? A few days rest AFTER vacation?
Seems that isn’t right…. Vacation – a time of rest?
This whole exhaustion thing is something that is NOT new!
There are demands that must be met, and there is REST that is OVERWHELMINGLY needed:
Matt 11:28-30
28 “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
I want you to notice something: Jesus does not say, come to me and I will give you riches and prosperity, success and extra time.
He says, I will give you REST!
Rest is freedom from work, toil, strain or activity.
Rest is the cessation of motion or action of any kind, and applicable to any body or being, as rest from labor, rest from mental exertion or rest of body or mind.
A body is at rest, when it ceases to move.
The mind is at rest, when it ceases to be disturbed or agitated.
REST:
• Means you STOP
• ACKOWLEDGE that you have LIMITS
• Is about BEING – NOT DOING
• Sets aside work, striving, producing
• Quiet
• Relaxing
• Creates time to and space to refill
He says, take my yoke and learn from me:
Here is the imagery you need to get:
You have 2 yokes, one that does not fit, and is heavy, awkward –
And one that fits just right, in all the right ways, and is light!
Jesus says HIS is the light weight one that fits just right.
Which means the other one is the yoke of the WORLD!
He says take MY yoke and learn from me – and you will find rest for yourselves!
Did you catch that?
Jesus says if you do this, YOU WILL SEE for YOUSELF!
Why? Because his yoke is easy, and His burden is light.
So lets put all of this together:
You can do life your way, which is really the worlds way – because it’s the way everyone else does it,
Or you can do life Jesus’ way = and if you do, you will find rest. The last bit Jesus says there is basically this: try and see.
So now the question is: HOW do I do that?
Well: it take a quick journey BACK IN TIME for a full picture:
All the way back to Exodus 33
Let me pain the picture:
At this point, God is furious at the Israelites.
The Lord had brought them out of Egypt, given them quail and manna, water – made sure they were taken care of. Moses had ventured up Mt Sinai the 1st time, and the people made a Golden Calf. God sends a plague to the Israelites of some kind.
He is mad!
Moses still is able to meet with the Lord:
The Lord tells Moses, it’s time to go to the Promised Land – BUT I WILL NOT GO WITH YOU.
Moses is devastated!
He pleads with God –
Exodus 33:12-13
Moses said to the Lord, “Look, You have told me, ‘Lead this people up,’ but You have not let me know whom You will send with me. You said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight.’ 13 Now if I have indeed found favor in Your sight, please teach me Your ways, and I will know You and find favor in Your sight. Now consider that this nation is Your people.”
tell me what I need to do, help me become the man I need to be, help me know YOUR WAYS
Moses is desperate to know how he can be better for God! And He let’s God hear his words – plainly! He is saying, look I am trying, I can get better, and if I can get better, then these people of YOURS can get better! Just HELP ME, TELL ME, SHOW ME!
Exodus 33:14
Then He replied, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
There is that word again: REST
The Lord says, my presence will be with you and you will have rest!
Exodus 33:15
“If Your presence does not go,” Moses responded to Him, “don’t make us go up from here.
WOW!
See Moses was meeting with God right there! He is saying plainly, look: I know your presence is here, and if it is not going with us, then I don’t want to leave RIGHT HERE!
If your presence is at this location, then I don’t want to be over there!
God was telling Moses to take the people and GO TO THE PROMISED LAND!
But Moses says
NO! I WOULD RATHER HAVE YOU THAN THE PROMISED LAND!
AND THAT IS HOW you take the Lord’s yoke upon yourself!
You desire God’s presence more than anything promised!
You desire God’s presence more than any possession!
You desire God more than anything!
Now the beauty of it is this:
God is with you everywhere always, if you are one of His children!
So you can always talk to God, always find time for prayer!
But check this out:
You need to take a day off for REST!
Just like you can need a day for physical recovery, you need a day of spiritual recovery!
A day where you REALLY STOP – REFILL – SPEND TIME WITH GOD!
You can do this with family!
This is why God set aside the SABBATH!
1 day!
Go to His house of worship, read His book with family, take TIME ALONE WITH GOD!
