The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (Exodus 33:14).

Over the past few months, I have had two conversations with individuals who had agreed to do outside work for me.  The first of these was a person who would only be working an hour or so grinding out the root system of an old tree which had already been removed.  The problem was he wanted to come early on a Sunday morning to do the task, because during the week he had another job.  I informed him that the work he’d be doing would make too much noise for a Sunday, and I did not want to get credited with creating such a disturbance in the neighborhood.  The other guy has done odd jobs for me on a more routine basis.  He too has a day job, and I knew what I was asking him to do would take more than just a few hours.  After I described the scope of the work, I told him he was welcome to do it in the evenings or on Saturdays but that I did not want him doing anything on Sundays. Both men agreed on my conditions. While it may have not mattered to anyone else, it would have mattered to me. After all, for those who are on the Christian Journey – Sunday is the Sabbath, a day for rest.

Rest is promoted in our culture and is big business. Health experts tell us that in order to maintain a good state of physical well-being, it is important that you get a good night’s rest. This is reinforced by advertisers who want to sell you the adjustable mattress where you can choose your individual state of firmness by selecting a number on the provided remote.  Or how about that guy who created that perfect pillow and personally guarantees it to be the “most comfortable one you will ever own.”  If you have trouble falling and staying asleep, there are prescription medications available. You can purchase machines that play sounds which will relax you, and you can get therapy body oils or lotions to enhance your rest. Assisting us to have a good night’s sleep is just one form of rest, but there are many others. Employees are given rest breaks at work. When we are traveling, we might decide to pull over at a rest stop.  If we are playing in a band or orchestra, we might take a rhythmical rest as noted in the music. Or if we are going on about something, we may simply be told to give it a rest.

Rest is a Biblical principle as well. It is so significant that it is part of the creation story. “On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.” (Genesis 2:2-3). When God revealed His commandments to Moses, “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy” (Exodus 20:8) was on the list. This tradition carried on through the early church. “For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: ‘On the seventh day God rested from all his works…’ There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God. For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world” (Hebrews 4:4,9-10). When the Pharisees questioned Jesus about certain activity on the Sabbath, He responded, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27).

Jesus understood that the concept of rest had many interpretations. Before the feeding of the five-thousand, there is this passage: “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest’ (Mark 6:31). Ultimately Jesus was more concerned about a different kind of rest, that which we can only find in Him. He said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). His is the promise of a spiritual rest available to those who repent and believe in Him. When we rest in Jesus, we are assured comfort and peace that He alone can provide. Charles Spurgeon put it this way: “If we can become as He is, we shall rest as He does. The lowly in heart will be restful of heart.” Jesus, therefore, extends rest to us as an invitation, not only for the physical relief we might find at the end of a busy day or week but for that spiritual refuge that we shall come to realize is simply ours for the taking. It’s an expression of faith to renew our spirit and truly satisfy the soul.

REFLECTION: Have there been times in your life when you have been restless? To what have you turned to find peace and comfort?  What do you need to do to experience the rest that Christ can provide?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., SEPTEMBER 3, 2016.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.