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 11:28-29
Many people think that all Jesus does is invite Christians to do His work and get busy reaching the lost, feeding the crowds, planting churches, doing business, and taking care of our families. However, more often than not, Jesus invites us to rest in Him.
A lot of Christianity today is concerned with doing. We think that God only calls us to do things - labor for God's kingdom, follow His rules, deny ourselves, change our ways and attitudes and so many other things. Left to ourselves, we humans fall into the default of working our way through things often to the point of avoiding and even ignoring rest.
But God values rest and often calls us to be still in His presence and know Him more. Christianity actually has more to do with being with God than working for God. We must value rest because God values rest and calls us into rest.
Rest maximises relationship
When God created Adam, He didn't make Him on the first, second, third, fourth or fifth day. He made man on the sixth day so that when he woke up the next day, He wouldn't see a God working, but a God resting and enjoying a relationship with Him.
The Biblical concept of rest has very little to do with slacking off and being lazy and has more to do with being still in God's presence and in the presence of others enjoying and growing in relationship.
Rest breeds trust
Many people find it hard to be still before God because they feel that they have to get things done. We often forget that, left to ourselves and separate of God's grace and Jesus' finished work, we'll probably just make things worse.
When we rest, we don't simply stop working. We stop working so that we allow God to start working in our midst. That's why Jesus invites us in Matthew 11:29 to give Him our burdens so He can carry them for us.
Rest celebrates finished work
When God rested after six days of creation, it was not because He was tired but because He wanted to celebrate the work that He had completed. Jesus also invites us to rest in Him and in knowing that the victory has now been won in Him. There is now no need to be worn out by worry and anxiety because we know that God makes all things work together for those who love and trust Him (Romans 8:28).
