Happy Labor Day!!

Happy Labor Day!! In America, it is a day we rest from our labors, spend time with family and enjoy one last "hurrah" of summer. Today, I want to discuss the rest we have in God.

Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-29
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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.

His fellow Jews had many burdensome regulations and traditions placed on them by the Sadducees and Pharisees. Jesus was teaching them they only needed to believe He was the Son of God and follow his example.

Jesus tells Martha in John 11:25, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”

And in John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

But believing that Jesus is the Son of God is not all that is asked of us. We must also obey God by keeping the 2 greatest commandments... which covers all of the requirements in the 10 commandments and beyond.

Matthew 22:37-39
“ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

So let everything you do, think and say reflect love for God and love for others.

Jeremiah 6:16
“This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”

God gave us a helper to walk in the “good way”
Jesus teaches in John 14:26-27
“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Wow, the Holy Spirit, our Counselor, will teach us and remind us. That is a comfort which gives us “peace”.

In closing, I want to share a couple passages in Psalms from David:
Psalm 16:7-11
“I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

And he shares in Psalm 62:1-2
“Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”

David found rest and peace in God’s faithful hands.

May you ALSO have rest and peace in God this Labor Day and every day that follows.