Periodic rest stops on a trip are often
helpful as are rest periods in our lives. They can take the form of
vacations, slowing our schedules, or just taking a nap. Preaching on Mark
6:31 (KJV), "Come ye yourselves apart and rest awhile," evangelist
Vance Havner said, "Come apart or you'll come apart." Rest
periods are important even in the Bible!
In Genesis God rested on the 7th day after
6 days of creating the world. I don't believe God was tired, but in doing
so He set a pattern for us. In the 4th Commandment (Exodus 20:8-11) the
Israelites were told that the Sabbath day was holy and no work was to be done.
God intended that no person or work animal should labor on that day but
have a day of rest. Travel and meal preparation were limited as well to
insure rest. Extremists took the point of Sabbath rest too far in that
they wouldn't even allow emergency help or acts of compassion to be performed. (Jesus
rebuked such misunderstanding with His teaching that the Sabbath was made for
man and not man for the Sabbath). God even required the Israelites to
give their farmland every 7th year off for rest. (Exodus 23:10)
Not only do we need physical rest periods
but emotional ones as well. The Bible speaks of "being still"
as we lay our fears and frustrations aside and rest in the love, wisdom,
and power of the Lord. (Psalm 37:4; 46:10) Emotional rest can also come
as we pause from concentrating so hard to figure it all out and take a moment
to do something we purely enjoy or appreciate a moment of beauty, quietness, or
humor.
In our text today, Jesus speaks of
spiritual rest for our souls. What a joy to realize we can't earn our
salvation but that we can rest in the finished work of Christ to save us. (Ephesians
2:8-9; Romans 4:25) What a delight to know that even when we don't know
the future or life brings the unexpected, that we can be led of the Holy
Spirit. (Romans 8:14) What a peace to know that even when the world seems
to be "out of control" that God's Word teaches us of His sovereign
plan. (Proverbs 19:21) What a blessing to know that following the will of
Christ brings greater rest to our heart, mind, and conscience than any worldly
pathway. (Matthew 11:30) What an encouragement to know that our future in
Heaven provides permanent rest from the heartaches, hurts, struggles, and sins
of this life. (Revelation 21:4)
See you Sunday. (Just don't rest too much during the sermon!)
1. Read about
that first day of rest. Genesis 2:2-3
2. What is
the intended result of rest? Exodus 23:12
3. Ancient
Israel often failed to give the land the rest God commanded in Exodus 23:10. What
was the final result of that? 2 Chronicles 20:21
4. Where can
we find peace and rest? Jeremiah 6:16; Isaiah 26:3; Philippians 4:6-7
5. Note some
of the rest periods of Jesus. Matthew 14:13a; Mark 4:38; John 4:6
6. In our
text Jesus speaks of wearing His yoke (worn by an animal working to pull a plow
or wagon) and yet having rest for our souls rest. How do these 2 concepts
work together?
7. How does
Jesus indicate completion of His work of salvation? Hebrews 1:3
8. Study
Hebrews 4:1-11...a fascinating passage about spiritual rest.
