Matthew 11:28(KJV)
Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
The above Scripture presents Jesus as the source of rest from labor without reward, rest from adversaries, rest from life’s troubles and the promised rest with God in eternity. Rest is obtainable, but only in Christ. All those who answer His call will receive all-round rest here on earth and eternal rest with God in Heaven. Hebrews 4:11 says “Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.” There is no rest in any other place, true and absolute rest can only be found in the Word of God. Don’t take the Word of God for granted, hear it and act on it. Whenever the Word of God prevails in your life, you will step into your rest, and where the Word is not found, struggle continues.
This is a call to keep company and communion with the Lord. In His Presence we find real rest and safety! Learning of Him occurs in His Presence and in His Presence we have intimate conversations and cast all our worries and anxiety to Him without any form of distractions. In His Presence, He deliver us from the burdens of this world that causes frustration and depression. As we can see from this call, it is from the place of His Presence that we derive rest, fulfilment, joy, peace and victory. We might be going through pain, hardships, trials, lack, or any other affliction, however it is not the will of God for His Children to pass through life in stress and tension. God through His Son Jesus Christ is calling you into His Presence to give you rest, it is a place where the child of God experiences total and peaceful rest on earth even before the eternal rest in Heaven.
Beloved, strive to give yourself to the reading and studying of the Word, prayer and worship in order to enter your place of rest in God. You are not called to labor to be healed, by His stripes, you are healed. You are not called to labor to get rich, He became poor so you might be rich and He gives you the power to be rich. When Jesus, the author of life, carries your burden for you, you can be rest assured that the case is settled for ever. All He requires of you is to come to Him! Isaiah 55:2 says “Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.” Come with the faith that He can do it, come with hope and He will never fail you and He will give you what the devil cannot access. Today, lean on the Eternal Rock of Ages and you can be assured of true rest, joy and peace. Receive rest today in Jesus’ Name!
O LORD, help me in this evil and perverse generation to find rest from all the struggles, pains and burdens of life in Jesus’ Name.
Sheila Bossman Aggrey