As I delved into yesterday's topic, I found an abundance of instances of the word "rest" in scripture, and there were so many interesting definitions, I decided to keep going and post a "part 2."
Matthew 11:29 is part of a very familiar passage:
"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." (NIV)
The word here translated as "rest" truly embodies some beautiful concepts; even as I type, it softens and humbles my heart to know that Jesus wants to provide this kind of rest for us.
From Hastings' Bible Dictionary, the rest indicated here is "not the rest of inactivity but of harmonious working of all the faculties and affections, of will, heart, imagination, conscience, because each has found in God the ideal sphere for its satisfaction and development." (emphasis mine)
Jesus desires for you & for me to find complete satisfaction & development in God - in our will, our heart, our imagination, our conscience and more. This is rest.
I think the whole picture combines yesterday's message & today's. And I think they happened to come in the appropriate order. I sometimes read things like this post today and wonder, "Okay, great, find satisfaction in God...but how do I do that?" For me, feeling satisfied is great thing...but what if I don't? So, I refer back to yesterday: cease activity, get quiet and wait. Then move forward, knowing that He brings rest, real rest.
Let His reality become yours by doing what He instructs and trusting in both His ability and His character. It's a simple formula, although I know it's hard for me to put into practice. Thankfully, that's why I get more than just once chance. I'll take progress when I can't find perfection. Today will be a day of greater restfulness for me; and tomorrow, I trust, will be even more so. I hope you'll be able to mindfully obey and say the same!
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