Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Mt 11:28 NASB
Jesus promised to give you rest. Are you resting enough?
I was very busy. On Friday after work I was very tired, and then I spent the whole weekend doing good Christian things. Then I went to work tired on Monday.
The Ten Commandments commanded the Jews to rest from work on the seventh day. Some Christians still observe the seventh day and others keep Sunday as holy but whichever day you keep holy, you can be too busy honouring God but not resting.
One of the great Christian leaders of our time is Yonggi Cho, the great Pentecostal church leader in Korea.
He experienced a crisis when his wife became very unhappy. He prayed about it and God told him he was not observing the principle of the Sabbath rest. The issue was not over the correct day, whether Saturday or Sunday. The problem was that he was busy in ministry 7 days a week.
God told him to relax and spend time with his wife on Mondays. When he did that, his wife was happy and his ministry continued to be blessed.
I was very busy. On Friday after work I was very tired, and then I spent the whole weekend doing good Christian things. Then I went to work tired on Monday.
The Ten Commandments commanded the Jews to rest from work on the seventh day. Some Christians still observe the seventh day and others keep Sunday as holy but whichever day you keep holy, you can be too busy honouring God but not resting.
One of the great Christian leaders of our time is Yonggi Cho, the great Pentecostal church leader in Korea.
He experienced a crisis when his wife became very unhappy. He prayed about it and God told him he was not observing the principle of the Sabbath rest. The issue was not over the correct day, whether Saturday or Sunday. The problem was that he was busy in ministry 7 days a week.
God told him to relax and spend time with his wife on Mondays. When he did that, his wife was happy and his ministry continued to be blessed.
You may devote most of your weekend to God but are you resting?
Jesus promised to give you rest but YOU cannot enjoy that gift if you do not spend time just resting. Jesus offers rest.
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.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Mt 11:29–30 NRSV
For many years I was active in churches until I realised that busy Sundays were a burden and not a blessing. I felt bound by duty to attend Sunday services morning and night.
Then I was convicted by the Holy Spirit, who reminded me that I was not visiting my ageing father often enough. Church twice on Sunday was leading me into the sin of not properly honouring my father.
Then I went to lovely Spirit filled meetings most Friday nights and I went to meetings two or three Sundays a month but Sunday church was no longer a binding law for me.
Who are you to pass judgement on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. Romans 14:4-5 (ESV)
And what about your relaxation? Are you really relaxing when you watch TV? So much modern recreation is not rest but restless distraction which subtly takes us away from God. I am not a legalist and I watch funny TV programs sometimes but in small doses.
And then there is sleep. Are you tired from lack of sleep? I often am, and I am trying to correct that.
Jesus promised to give you rest but YOU cannot enjoy that gift if you do not spend time just resting. Jesus offers rest.
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.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Mt 11:29–30 NRSV
For many years I was active in churches until I realised that busy Sundays were a burden and not a blessing. I felt bound by duty to attend Sunday services morning and night.
Then I was convicted by the Holy Spirit, who reminded me that I was not visiting my ageing father often enough. Church twice on Sunday was leading me into the sin of not properly honouring my father.
Then I went to lovely Spirit filled meetings most Friday nights and I went to meetings two or three Sundays a month but Sunday church was no longer a binding law for me.
Who are you to pass judgement on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. Romans 14:4-5 (ESV)
And what about your relaxation? Are you really relaxing when you watch TV? So much modern recreation is not rest but restless distraction which subtly takes us away from God. I am not a legalist and I watch funny TV programs sometimes but in small doses.
And then there is sleep. Are you tired from lack of sleep? I often am, and I am trying to correct that.
It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives sleep to his beloved. Ps 127:2 NRSV
If you sleep enough and you go to sleep in the presence and the love of God, He will supernaturally bless you in the night in your bed. This is how I have received some of my greatest blessings.
There are even some people who have dreamed about going on missions to other countries. There are people who believe they were actually sent to those places in the Spirit. I believe God can do all things. Why not?
If you sleep enough and you go to sleep in the presence and the love of God, He will supernaturally bless you in the night in your bed. This is how I have received some of my greatest blessings.
There are even some people who have dreamed about going on missions to other countries. There are people who believe they were actually sent to those places in the Spirit. I believe God can do all things. Why not?
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