“Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
Rest… (sigh)
I desire a mindset of rest – God given rest.
Upon reading about rest as described in the Bible, it is more rich and full than only resting your physical body. It is a state where it is fully recognized that you are where God wants you no matter what is happening around you – challenging, difficult, good, bad or terrific. It is a physical, mental, and spiritual position where biblical faith, hope, and trust meet, collide, and reside. It’s contentment in whatever state or situation you find yourself. It is an “all things work together” locale that has a “five star rating.”
Rest does not come naturally. As the Bible relays in Genesis – Adam and Eve took care of ridding us of that benefit. They had the state of rest continually until the fall through their interaction with the serpent.
“And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.” Genesis 3:22-24 KJV
We now need to gain this state by continually restoring our relationship with God.
Come unto me…
The portion of scripture above from the book of Matthew outlines how to gain the gift of the state of rest. Rest is achieved with relationship. Thus, a person must be familiar with God and His ways to gain it. To gain/get or take something from someone you have to be close to them physically, mentally and/or emotionally.
Take my yoke upon you and learn of me…
“Take” implies God is not forcing His rest on anyone. It is a choice to take on God’s state of rest.
In Jeremiah it says, “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.”
Jeremiah 6:16 KJV
Therefore rest at the time was not found.
Even Moses in the Old Testament had to ask and seek God for guidance when leading the people out in turbulent times. God promised him rest .
Then Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people.’ But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.’ Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.”
And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:12-14
God said – My Presence will go with you and with my Presence you will have rest.
When we’re at rest – there is no turmoil. There is no anxiousness or worry. Even when we don’t know exactly what the future holds, we can have calm within and around us because we are assured that God is with us.
Although being in a state of “rest” may sound like you’re doing nothing – there’s action that can be possible while in this spiritual place. God said those who labor come into rest. There’s purpose to what is happening when we are at rest. Great and mighty things can be accomplished while at rest in God, It sounds as though rest comes to those who labor, those who are assured and confident they are moving in God’s Will and purpose.
Take God’s yoke…
A yoke is a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plow or cart that they are to pull. It makes sure that two animals are pulling together in the right direction to accomplish a task. In this case I believe God is asking us to apply His Word to every situation in our lives so that we are all pulling in the same direction. When pulling in numerous directions the job seems difficult and burdensome. We cannot budge anything if we aren’t working toward the same goal. But, if we work together- GLORY! if we all take on His Yoke, His Word – it would make life much more bearable for not only ourselves but others too.
Learn from Him…
We have an example. Jesus said He is gentle and lowly in heart. He is guiding us to be the same – primarily to not be harsh and to be humble by having empathy. As scripture in Philippians 2:3-5 says –
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”
Philippians 2:3-5 KJV
We are confident and can think of others because we know that God has us. We can be considerate and move on others behalf in rest because God is with us as He promised. How do we know He is with us? We know when we have taken His yoke, the Word of God, and are actively applying it to our lives. We are assured He will “never leave or forsake us.”
When at rest you can claim as Psalm 27 says:
“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, They stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: Though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.”
Psalm 27:1-3 KJV
In rest there is confidence not fear. Confidence that the “world” can’t quite comprehend. That confidence in God and His Word produces rest. Rest is what we want to achieve. Rest is what we desire.
Take on God’s yoke for it is easy and you will find rest.
lifeandgodliness 