FollowingJesus.me

“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.” – Matthew 11:29

God has me on a journey over a couple of my previous posts. This journey began several weeks ago with previous posts.

Since those posts, Holy Spirit continues to draw me in and talk to me about this idea of soul rest. In short, what I am learning is this:

1. “Rest for your souls” that Jesus offers in Matthew 11:28-30 is different from your garden variety, everyday type of rest.

2. Most of us understand our need for rest (including the importance of eating well and exercising) but we have a difficult time putting that into practice.

3. If we are not good stewards of our health and learn the disciplines of rest, we will not find that next level of “rest for your souls” (soul rest). If we are not faithful with little things (rest), we will not be faithful in much (soul rest).

4. God’s offer of soul rest is tied to His offer of salvation. (Acts 3:19, Isaiah 30:15)

5. God’s followers have been rejecting His offer for thousands of years, i.e. Isaiah 30:15ff, Isaiah 31:1.

6. God, though rejected, keeps offering, i.e. Matthew 11:28-30.

7. Unlike “rest”, soul rest does not come from taking a break, going on vacation. Soul rest is not temporary or enjoyed in spurts.

8. SOUL REST IS A WAY OF LIFE. God’s invitation is to live life in a completely different way.

a. “The thief comes to steal and to kill and to destroy. But I have come that you might have life and have it to the full.”

b. “I am the vine and you are the branches. If you abide in me you will bear much fruit.”

c. “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength…”

d. “Do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to know what the Lord’s will is, His good, pleasing, and perfect will.”

e. “The Lord is my shepherd…green pastures…quiet waters…He restores my soul.”

f. “Come to me all who are weary…learn from me…and you will find rest for your souls.”

9. Soul rest comes more from identity than it does from activity (or non-activity)

a. Shepherd / sheep (Psalm 23)

b. Vine / branches (John 15)

10. Soul rest only comes through relationship and specifically a relationship marked by total trust and total surrender

a. Psalm 23

b. “If you want to follow me, you must deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me.”

11. Here’s the rub: everything within us fights against totally surrendering to God and completely trusting Him with every aspect of our lives. We don’t want to be sheep, we want to be shepherds (at least be shepherds over our own lives). We surrender our life one day and take it back the next.

12. Until Jesus returns, we will continually struggle with total surrender, BUT we can grow a little more in our relationship with Jesus every day and decide to trust and surrender a little more every day. As with any relationship, it is a journey.

13. Jesus makes the offer and then lets us decide what to do with it.

What will I decide? What will you decide?

That’s what I am learning at the moment.

What about you; what is Jesus talking to you about in this season? What are you doing about it?

Prayer:

Lord, give me ears to hear your still, small voice. Give me eyes to see what you are doing in my life and the lives of those around me. Lord, give me a heart that knows you and follows you. As I read the Bible today, Holy Spirit, I invite you to make the Word living and active in my life. Help me to live and act on what you are saying to me.

Thank you, Jesus!