Have you ever gone through a season of
weariness? There have been times that between work, family, school, house and
car maintenance, and all the things that go into daily life that I’ve looked at
me wife and just shook my head saying, “There’s no rest for the wicked.” (This,
by the way, is actually not a Bible verse.)
Sometimes we get so wrapped up in all
the going, doing, working, taking, giving, and everything else that we get
tired. Add to our exhaustion sickness, death, and a few financial struggles and
it is easy to feel overwhelmed really fast. We were not designed to go
non-stop. We were not intended to bear sorrow upon sorrow.
God, from the beginning, set aside one
day a week to be a day of rest. The Sabbath Day was a day that work was to
cease and people were to be refreshed in God’s Word where He is present and
works in our lives. Over time, and due to Jesus’ resurrection, the day we
observe Sabbath rest has changed from Saturday to Sunday, but the concept
remains the same. People need rest and refreshment.
Now, we should be clear, rest and
refreshment are more than doing nothing. Sin tears us apart. The healing we
receive in Jesus’ absolution gives us strength to carry on. Part of the Sabbath
idea is to be fed and served by God so that we might have the life and energy
we need to serve Him out in the world by serving our neighbor. This is why
gathering to hear the Word and receive the Sacrament are essential to the
Sabbath.
In a world full of brokenness and
weariness, Jesus still calls out, “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.”
God is not out there looking for ways to
make our lives harder. He knows how hard life is in this world and how worn out
sinning and being sinned against leaves us. He does not call us so that He
might beat us up, but to give us rest in the forgiveness Jesus won by His rest
in the tomb before the resurrection.
God, give me rest in the grace you have
revealed in Jesus. Amen.
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