Part 1 of the Work of Rest encouraged us to receive rest in our souls. This comes as we join our faith to the word of God and believe - come what may, we are to live in rest, not stress.
But there’s a second part of rest that may be even more difficult for believers to receive and live out, it’s the physical aspect of rest. As Christians, sometimes we think that movement for Christ means movement in Him. It ain’t necessarily so.
Be honest, have you ever been stressed out and maybe burnt out, doing what you believed is the Christian thing to do? You believed you should have gone here, done this, and done that, even when you were so tired you could hardly think straight. You pushed yourself beyond measure. But was pleasing Jesus your motive?
Let’s go back to Matthew 11: 28. Jesus said “HIS” yoke is easy and HIS burden is LIGHT.
In our zeal to please self and others, we can take our OWN heavy yoke. Without the prayerful yoke of Jesus, our efforts only lead to weariness and added stress.
Remember Jesus said, Come to ME! That’s our first and most important responsibility as a Christian.
As we spend time with Jesus daily and learn of Him, we become more sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. We trade our yoke, our way of doing things for His, resulting in His will being done on earth.
Recently, I considered doing 3 very important tasks that were Christ centered in 1 day. I sensed a lack of peace from the Holy Spirit about one of those tasks, but I felt it was just as important as the other tasks since it involved helping someone. After serving in three areas in one day, I did not feel well for a few days. It wasn't God's will for me to overdo it, and that is not His will for you. Whom Jesus loves, He chastens (Hebrews 12:6). I repented and received healing!
When we live in the rest of God, “we cease from our own works, as God did from His” (Hebrews 4:10). If God rested, so should we. Our bodies are His temple. Let's be obedient and labor to enter the rest of God! As we follow the Lords leading to do things His way and balance that with His rest we become spiritually and physically fit and God is well pleased! After all, it's about pleasing Him!
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