“Resting Everyday, Trust Savior!" (R.E.S.T)”   

By Ramesh C.Reddy
Pittsburgh Standard

Tuesday, Feb 24, 2009

SCRIPTURE:
^“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.” (Mark 6:31-32, NIV)

Observations:
I asked myself what is the cause-effect relationship we see here?
Because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, the result was Jesus told his disciples 3 things.

I asked myself what were the 3 things Jesus told his disciples?

1. Come with me by yourselves.

2. Come to a quiet place.

3. Get some rest.

Interpretation:
I asked myself the significance of Jesus’ statements?
I found it very significant because Jesus' statements showed me how much Jesus cared for the disciples he called, sent, and gave authority to do His work. Jesus did not want them to be so ministry-oriented that they did not take care of themselves. I am reminded that Jesus gave those commands to the disciples while they were sharing all they had done and taught as they were surrounded by people that were coming and going. Jesus wanted them to have a chance to eat and take care of themselves.

Maybe they wanted to continue to share with Jesus what all happened when they were on a mission trip  but Jesus wanted to take them away from the crowds until they had a chance to eat. So, Jesus calls them to a quiet place. It was not enough that they just eat but Jesus wanted them to get rest too.  Also, Jesus wanted to spend time alone with them. That is so cool!

The disciples obeyed and all of them went away in a boat to a solitary place.

Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life. I learned how much Jesus cares for my own physical well-being too. No matter how much time is spent in ministry ministering to others, Jesus wants me to take time to eat and get rest. More than anything, I know Jesus wants to spend time alone with me too. I need to make time to eat, get rest, and spend solitary time with Jesus.

Jesus did not want the disciples to get burned out nor does he want me to get burned out. Sadly, few years ago, I did not listen though! I should have heeded the commands Jesus gave to his disciples after they spent time doing ministry. At least, they listened and had solitary time with Jesus in the boat away from everything. That gave them rest on the boat while they were traveling.

I recall when I was doing campus ministry for 40-80 hrs/week on campus with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF). I would leave home at 8:00 a.m. and would come back home at 12:00 Midnight most days. I wanted to minister to every student I could. Eventually, I got burned out and sick too.

Even when Jesus calls us to something, He wants us to take care of ourselves and be wise with what He has called us to. I was not wise. Ministry was a good thing I was doing but anything good too done in disobedience can neutralize the effect. The disobedience on my part was not taking adequate time to eat, to rest, and spend enough solitary time with Jesus where I listen to Him and do what He wants me to do in my life.

One time I became so sick that I had to be in bed for 96 consecutive hours. It was a blessing in disguise because I was forced to take care of myself. The time was spent getting lots of rest, in prayer, and eventually building my immune system up again.  I am reminded of a Bible verse that Jesus still brings to my mind to apply in my life.

“Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late,     toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.” (Psalm 127:1-2, NIV)

This verse showed me that even in ministry without the Lord’s help my toiling would be in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the ministry, all my work will be in vain because it is done apart from the Lord.

This verse specifically talks about toiling for food to eat but for me it applied to ministry too. Lord wanted me to get sleep and take care of myself without being so much ministry oriented that I forget to take care of myself. Lord knew what I was doing was not right because other areas of my life were affected too. Since I went my own way, there were consequences to pay for my own good.

Eventually, I was forced to take a Sabbatical from ministry I was doing on campus. Because I was so passionate about reaching students with the love of Christ, I did not listen when those the Lord placed in authority over me wanted me to take rest and cut down on my hours in ministry. That affected my fundraising too because I was not doing it! So, I was placed on Sabbatical. It was a long Sabbatical too and it did help me so much.

After the Sabbatical, things were not the same anymore but the Lord opened other doors for me. I still do ministry through different means and have been eating well (sometimes too well that I have to tell my body, ‘no more food for you today’), been getting a lot of rest, and most of all have been able to spend a lot of time with the Lord in solitariness which has been my favorite part when I do it faithfully. I have been getting a lot of rest majority of the time.

I will not say everything has been perfect for me because it has not been but Jesus has been there for me and has been getting me through and teaching me a lot as I rest in Him. There is still so much I need to pray and learn from my Jesus.

Friend, I have shared with you Jesus’ emphasis for his disciples to rest in Him and take care of their selves. I have also shared my own personal experiences and how Jesus brought me to a place where I would be forced to take rest and most of all my favorite part has been to rest in Him.

The verses above give the biblical basis for missionaries and those doing God's work to get adequate rest to take care of themselves. Ministry is an out flowing of our own relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. We can only give what we have received. To receive we need to rest in the Lord Jesus.

Friend, the disciples rested in Jesus and not on themselves. This is also what the Gospel is about. We can choose to find our rest in so many things the world offers or what we think God wants us to do including ministry but apart from having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, all our toiling will be in vain. For everything we do that we may think is good is filthy rags to the Lord, if He does not become the central focus of our lives.

Only in Christ can we find true rest because Jesus went to the cross to pay the penalty for our sin while we were yet sinners, so we do not have to toil in bondage and slavery to sin. Jesus was buried for us and came back to life on the 3rd day to save you and me. We need to accept the rest Jesus offers as the disciples did because doing ministry by ourselves we will get burned out. Turning to Jesus, we come and acknowledge that we are sinners in need of a Savior who alone can rescue us and help us find the rest we need.  When we rest in the Lord, He will put other brothers and sisters in our lives to help us through.

I ask you now dear friend, where do you find rest in your life?
Dear friend, people find rest in different places. Most people I know try to find their rest in relationships but I have found no rest is solid without first resting in the Lord and doing what He has called us to. Jesus loves us so much that He desires us to find rest in Him first.

It is not that Jesus does not want us to do other things such as ministry, pursuing relationships, academics, or career but when those things preoccupy us to the point that we lose our focus on the Lord then we have put ourselves in a precarious position. I know for I can speak from experience.

Nothing even ministry, relationships, careers, academics, etc are worth the time spent when our relationship with the Lord suffers. When the Lord is not at the forefront things may seem to go well for awhile but then BAM, we can see the effects. Lord, loves us so much and wants to offer us nothing less than the best. For that to happen, we need to take enough time to spend and rest with Jesus. He wants that for you friend. Yes, friend! He does! This is not to say things will always be peachy but we can find our rest in Him being strengthened by Him.

You can find true rest only in the Lord as you find solitary time for Him, daily resting in Him. He will then bring everything else into perspective and you will have the wisdom to approach every situation, for you will be guided by the Author of Life. That is awesome to know! I know it is for me!

Friend anything good taken too far can become hurtful in the long run even if it is ministry. It happened to me and I do not want any situation in your life to turn sour because you put so much time into it but less and less time finding rest in Jesus Christ! Only Jesus Christ can give you the rest you need.

Jesus already knows what you are going through. He sees you as you are. Come to him as you are and if you feel you have abandoned the Lord, He waits for you with open arms of love to receive you.

Jesus said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you!"

If you have never come to find rest in Jesus, now is the time of Salvation. Don't wait any longer but come as you are now this very moment.  It however starts with you acknowledging what a sinner you are and believing only Christ's cleansing blood can forgive you of all your sins and set you free because of what Jesus already did for you on the cross & because of the power of His resurrection when Jesus was raised from the dead.

Jesus is alive and wants to make you alive and fill the emptiness in your heart. He wants to light it up for you figuratively for He is the Light of the world and if you follow Him, you won't be stumbling in the darkness but living Light will guide your path.

May you know as your rest in Jesus Christ everything else will fall into place in His way and timing! We should  not want it any other way because Jesus loves us and we are destined to win in life with Jesus by our side. I want to share with you a song the Lord helped me write called, “I need the rest”

I need the rest!
By Ramesh C. Reddy

Where do I go when I need the rest?
Where do I go when I need the best?
Into my Lord’s nest
Into my Savior’s nest
 

He is with me through every test
He is with me through every test
His power, in me Jesus can vest
His power, in me Jesus can vest

Where do I go when I need the rest?
Where do I go when I need the best?
Into my Lord’s nest
Into my Savior’s nest!
Amen!

When we decide to rest in the Lord, we can be confident to take the pledge below:

This pledge was given by Dr. George Murray two weeks ago during our Missions Conference at Oakland International Fellowship.

"The pledge says, 'Lord Jesus, ANYTHING, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, I am ready!'

Signed ____________,  Date _________ "

"On the inside it says, MY DECISION

By signing the front of this card, today I decide that Jesus Christ is Lord and Master of my life. I no longer want to merely include God in my plans. I want God to include me in His plan, whatever that means, whatever the cost.

ANYTHING, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE

Witnessed by _______________"

I cannot do it on my own strength but by the strength He gives me. I am comforted by the promises in Psalm 121 which is a favorite song of mine and Romans 8 which is a favorite chapter of mine.

“Resting Everyday, Savior Trust!” (R.E.S.T)/”Where do you find rest in your life?”

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much for dying for my sin and coming back to life to save me. Thank you for teaching me through your Word and bringing my experiences to mind. Ministry is so important to you Lord but you also wanted your disciples to take care of themselves and eat. You also wanted them to get rest in a quiet place from everything. Thank you so much for providing a way for that to happen as you all traveled in a boat to have that time alone. Lord, thank you for teaching me that I need to find so much rest in you and you alone and not overdo anything and get burned out. Help me to always rest in you for every decision of my life whether it is in ministry, academia, careers, relationships with family and friends, etc. All decisions we make need your stamp of approval. I want your stamp of approval so I come to you for rest. All our needs you know and can give our needs to us in your timing. I thank you so much Jesus. I pray right now for the one who needs to find your closeness in their life. Fill them Oh Lord with your awesome presence and meet them where they are at. Let them know whatever they are feeling or going through that they are destined to win when they rest in you. Ah Lord God, nothing is too difficult for thee! Great and Awesome Lord, mighty in power are you! You are the Author of our Life! So please help us to spend the time you want us to spend with you without giving into the temptation of going our own way. Thank you so much Jesus! We need you Oh Lord, so please help us! I thank you for your help and for being there for us. Thank you for being our Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you that you have heard our prayers and answered us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

May you be uplifted knowing Deliverer openly understands bringing total Salvation! Amen!

If you would like to invite Jesus Christ into your heart and make Him a daily part of your life, you can this very moment. You will never be alone. You can claim God's promises for you in the Bible and see them come true, before your eyes, in His wonderful timing. You don't have to wait for a special time to come to the Lord. You can come right now as you pray this prayer, meaning it in your heart and finding your new identity in Christ Jesus.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, I am a sinner Lord. I am so sorry for my sins. I confess my sins to you. I confess the wrong things I have done and the times I messed up my own life. I need you Lord right now and in the years to come. I have gone my own way and have not found what only you can give me. You alone have the words of Eternal Life. You alone love me unconditionally for who I am. I thank you Jesus. Thank you for going to the cross for me, for dying for my sins, shedding your precious blood for me, so I can me made whole. I am covered by your blood Lord! I come as I am and  accept you Jesus into my heart. Please come into my heart Jesus. Please make my heart your home. Please live in me Jesus. Thanks Jesus for coming into my heart and living in me. Thank you for forgiving me of all my sins. Thank you for giving me a new identity in you. I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior as I believe in my heart that you died and came back to life to save me now and forever. I give myself to you and ask you to be in control of my life. Thank you Jesus through the  days, we can do things together. Thanks for being my Lord and Personal Savior. Thank you Jesus you have heard my prayer and answered me. Thanks Jesus for changing me and helping me through life's storms and winds. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!