by David Brenneman
You either rest willingly or you rest because Jesus takes you aside and makes you rest. In my lifetime I indeed have been subject to both.
There are just times when I was a child that a rest was necessary. Sometimes even a forced rest. My perception of the limits of my body and mind were not up to the task of knowing my limits.
In our lives as Believers we need to be mindful of our limitations. In our physical bodies we are still sin cursed. Until we receive our glorified bodies we will have troubles with this one.
You may know what HALT means.
Hungry
Angry.
Lonely.
Tired.
It's also a key indicator of knowing when we are exceeding our limits. When we are any of those things we are in danger of saying or doing something we certainly shouldn't be thinking of or doing.
It's only going to get worse if we persist in our stubbornness in those situations.
In the 4 Gospels we read of the great many times when either Jesus took Himself out of the realm of people to just be with His Father and or He removed His Disciples. They were not aware of their limitations or their need to recharge Spiritually.
We can easily be sucked into this world's way of relaxation. We can easily replace time away with God, with Jesus, with totally absent minded activities or actions.
The passage that tells us to make the most of every opportunity, at least to me, lends itself to much more than what we think. This is as important as it gets. Read it here in Ephesians 5:1-17 NASB "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
But sexual immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness or foolish talk, or vulgar joking, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, which amounts to an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the useless deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says,
“Awake, sleeper,
And arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine on you.”
So then, be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."
The Will of God for you is your sanctification. 2 Thessonians 4:3. It's to grow you in Christ Jesus. It's to begin that process of taking us out of the darkness into the light.
There are those in the Church today who are so weary they aren't remotely aware of how weary they are. They have accepted as right and true things that are completely contrary to the Word of God. A prime example is in that of the sexuality of men and women. God created them male and female, as it says in Genesis. In Psalms we read of the intimate details that God puts into our creation. Of knowing us before we were born, knowing us as our bodies are being created in the womb.
These people are so out of it that they believe things that God explicitly stated will not happen. God says specifically who will not see Heaven. Yet whole church denominations are preaching the lies that those types of people can be saved and remain in the sins they deceive themselves with.
To come to Christ is to repent and turn AWAY from sin. Not remain in it, certainly not to celebrate it.
We need to Spiritually eat to grow Spiritually. We need Spiritual rest. We need to live our lives in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them. There's a specific plan and purpose to each and every single Believer in the Church. When we come to Christ He places us as He sees fit in His body of the Church to do that which is best for the body of Christ. We are not our own, we were bought with a price, the blood of Jesus Christ.
Rest, for some, is a greatly difficult thing. They just don't know how to disconnect. I can be that way. I do have a problem with letting go of problems. Wanting to see a right, good and proper conclusion to them. Many times God's been adamant about stopping me before I could complete something because of this or that reason.
Rest is a necessity of life in this physical body with its limitations on physical and mental well-being. Sin cursed is what these bodies are and this world is. It will never be a utopia or even resemble one until Jesus reigns Himself from Earth physically for a thousand years. Sad to say that even after His personal rule over mankind, mankind will still rebel against him at the end of the thousand years.
What do you do to make your Spiritual health a priority? How sensitive to your Spiritual well-being are you? Look back on your life, how many times has Jesus honestly put you in a time-out?
We have to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. That's what a Disciple is and does. A Christ follower. Where He leads we follow.
"All the Way My Savior Leads Me" - Fanny Crosby 1875
All the way my Savior leads me
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His faithful mercies?
Who through life has been my guide
Heavenly peace, divinest comfort
Ere by faith in Him to dwell
For I know whate'er fall me
Jesus doeth all things well
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His faithful mercies?
Who through life has been my guide
Heavenly peace, divinest comfort
Ere by faith in Him to dwell
For I know whate'er fall me
Jesus doeth all things well
All of the way my Savior leads me
And He cheers each winding path I tread
Gives me strength for every trial
And He feeds me with the living bread
And though my weary steps may falter
And my soul a-thirst may be
Gushing from a rock before me
Though a spirit joy I see
And He cheers each winding path I tread
Gives me strength for every trial
And He feeds me with the living bread
And though my weary steps may falter
And my soul a-thirst may be
Gushing from a rock before me
Though a spirit joy I see
And all the way my Savior leads me
Oh, the fullness of His love
Perfect rest in me is promised
In my Father's house above
When my spirit clothed immortal
Wings it's flight through the realms of the day
This my song through endless ages
Jesus led me all the way.
Oh, the fullness of His love
Perfect rest in me is promised
In my Father's house above
When my spirit clothed immortal
Wings it's flight through the realms of the day
This my song through endless ages
Jesus led me all the way.
Jesus can and does suggest a rest and recharge or He makes us rest and recharge. We can either listen and do willingly or He will impose His Will for our own good. Our lives should never mirror this world. They should reflect Jesus.
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