Rest vs. Play
What does it mean to you to fully rest as the Labor Day Weekend begins? In American culture rest is considered anti-productive. A friend from church decided to research the idea of resting in the hopes of gaining freedom rather than a legalistic approach to the commandment which reads “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath day to the LORD your God; on that day you shall not do any work, you or your son or daughter or your male servant or your female servant or your ox or your donkey or any of your livestock or the stranger who stays inside your city gates, so that your male servant or your female servant may rest as well as you. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day (Deuteronomy 5).” When was the last time you took rest seriously?
Remember when there was a time in your life you were able to rest and keep the Sabbath holy. What made that possible and what does rest mean for you today? Here are a few things to consider:
Perhaps rest is not playing hard?
Perhaps rest is not escaping your circumstances?
Perhaps rest is not ticking off a list of to-do’s?
Rest may be a trusting state of mind, believing that God is sovereign and you don’t have to push and strain to make your life work or to change yourself.
Rest is a daily sense of peace; a belief that you can refuse to allow worry in.
Resting in the warmth of a family member, friend, or helping professional is possible any day of the week.
Perhaps resting is a lifestyle, not a specific outward ritual defined with a hundred rules.
The last point made brings me to what Jesus said in Matthew 11 after offering freedom from worry earlier in the Sermon on the Mount, he said “come to me all you who are weary and heavily burdened (by religious rituals that provide no peace), and I will give you rest (refreshing your souls with salvation). Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me (following Me as My disciple), for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls. For My yoke is easy (to bear) and My burden is light. (Amplified Bible, Bible Gateway Plus app).”
I can’t give you pat answers to the spiritual life and rest I am referring to. This is a place for those who have accepted they are sinners and have wounded people, that they need inner peace. It is where you accept that Jesus Christ has done your work for you. You can rest in that gift of standing holy before God, based on the Way who is Jesus Christ. This rest is a form of peace that is beyond description. In Phillipians 4 Paul writes, “Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything (every circumstance and situation) by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your (specific) request known to God. And the peace of God (that peace which reassures the heart, that peace) which transcends all understanding, (that peace which) stands guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (is yours).(AB)”
Hopefully you can take some time alone to reflect on how the LORD is speaking to you during this holiday weekend. You can expect your mind to wander, just give yourself the space to refocus on God. Enjoy the opportunities here and there that you can find rest and peace, whether you are working or playing.
