Rest

"Come to me, all who labor 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

I was studying this scripture the other day & noticed the words "give" and "rest" come from the same Greek word. The Greek word is anapauo, meaning: to cause or permit one to cease from any movement or labour in order to recover and collect his strength; to give rest, to refresh.

The Word of God is always so vibrant, full of life, and relevant! It refreshes the soul and molds the heart for God's glory and our good.

There is such vibrancy in the word "anapauo"!

God is the giver and in His giving is the Rest.

I began thinking of all the scriptures that speak of God giving. Wow!! There are so many! These are only a few...

Romans 8:32: God gave us His Son

Galatians 1:4: Jesus gave Himself for our sins to deliver us from the evil age

Ephesians 5:2: Jesus gave Himself as a sacrifice

2 Thessalonians 2:16: God gave us eternal comfort & hope through grace

1John 5:11: God gave us eternal life and this life is in His Son

God's Gift to us is the person & work of Jesus! Through Him, in Him, by Him is our rest. This is why in the beginning scripture Jesus is beckoning us, "Come to me". He is saying, I am given for you and I am the Rest you need. He desires to rid us of our heavy burdens and relieve us of our weariness.

When we believe in the person and work of Jesus, we enter into a relationship with the God of Heaven and Earth. We then become partakers of God's promises and the sweet Rest He is.

We learn to lay down our heavy burdens of self-justification, self-righteousness, and self-promotion. We are set free from slavery to sin and self-gratification which are so often the cause of our weariness.

Jesus declared on the cross, "It is finished". The labor intensive work of fulfilling the law of God perfectly could only be and was accomplished by Jesus Christ. He did the work that was required and paid the penalty against us. He gave us Himself. He is both the Accomplished Work and the Rest.

When we take His yoke or burden on us it is easy and light because we are operating by His strength, in His power, and encompassed by His gentle, humble heart. We no longer bear the crushing weight of trying to save or justify ourselves.

I stand amazed!

We can walk in the works God has prepared for us and still be at rest because He is the Rest our souls are replenished by.

Works produced by faith in Christ's finished work and rest are not separate, they happen simultaneously. Its not, work for Christ till you've done enough to earn rest.

Instead, abide in Rest Himself and be inspired to work joyfully and lovingly for Him. Be inspired to carry the light load He gives because He is both our continually supply of rest and strength.

"Thou awakest us to delight in Thy praise; for Thou madest us for Thyself, and our heart is restless, until it repose in Thee."

-Augustine, Bishop of Hippo

He is the Gift and the Rest!

Blessings,

Amy