Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you 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. Matthew 11:28-30

Devotion

Summer is quickly coming to an end. The school year is upon us, and for many, we get back to our regular schedules and routines of life. The idea behind summer break for most people is to get a season of R & R: rest and relaxation. It’s a time to get away from our everyday routine and escape from our regular responsibilities. Some even go as far as to change their physical location by traveling to someplace different. While vacations are not a bad thing, how many times have you seen people return only to say they need a vacation to recover from their vacation? The R & R they hoped and longed for was either too short or nonexistent. The problem is not that the vacation was too short or with the wrong people, or in the wrong location. The problem is that vacation doesn’t address our need for deep rest.

In Genesis, we read of God working for six days. Along the way, he kept saying it was good, until the last day when he said it was very good and then decided to rest. He was able to take a step back and rest once everything was complete. There was no more work to be done. Genesis also says we are created in God’s image. Deep down, we are designed to work until we are finished, to keep striving until the work is done. But the work never seems to be done. We all have an internal voice constantly asking: Who am I? Am I good enough? Do others think I’m enough? We are always trying to prove ourselves, but it’s never enough. We become weary when each day runs into the next ad nauseam without purpose. The daily grind is just that, a grind. The only way out of this downward spiral is through Jesus, and only through Jesus can you get this rest—the deep rest of the soul. 

Once you choose to trust in Jesus and follow him, we are complete. It is finished. You are enough. There is no more need to strive to earn God’s favor, and the desire to earn the favor of the world starts to fade away. Now you are called to live out your life as an image-bearer of God, to act and interact with the world around us in a way that brings a smile to God’s face. That means if you are cleaning the house, creating a cure for cancer, or caring for the grandkids, do it to please God. But remember, doing that act is not going to make God love you more. He will never love you more or less than he does now. But when you are working to please God, you will have a stronger connection to him. Not because he comes closer to you, but because you are turning towards him and accepting the grace that only he can provide. When your identity is found in him rather than what you do, you can rest. He lived the life and died the death so you can be accepted. Not because of your works, but because of his. So now when God looks at you, he sees Jesus’ righteousness and says, “It is very good.” Now you know you can rest.

PRAYER

Father, thank you for sending your Son. Thank you for creating a way for us to rest in you. We ask that you continue to guide and direct us in our everyday lives, so we may make the choices and decisions that you would make. We love you.

Marc Taylor
Edmond Location Pastor 

Resources

• Watch Find Rest for Your Soul by Pastor Blake Bastin.
• Listen to Rest On Us by Upper Room and Maverick City Music.
• Read The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer.

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