INTRODUCTION

Unfortunately, most Christians use their time set aside for rest to do things that actually deprive them of the intended rest. According to the scriptures, rest is supposed to be used to refresh the individual (Exodus 23:12Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.
See All...; Exodus 31:17It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
See All...; Isaiah 28:12To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
See All...). The rest is meant to bring the necessary strength and clarity of mind to go another week for the Lord. This refreshing is designed to bring a physical rest and spiritual renewal. Failure to do both causes the rest to be unfruitful and unprofitable. Rest was never intended to be self-serving, but rather a time of refreshment so that one might be able to properly provide for his family and minister for the Lord. When one uses it for any other purpose, he actually compounds his need for rest and problems associated with not getting any.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): In Deuteronomy 5:14But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou.
  See All..., the Lord made it plain He wanted man to rest physically. In Deuteronomy 5:15And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.
  See All..., the Sabbath was also a time for God's people to remember what the Lord had done for them. That is spiritual refreshment.
• (For everyone): Do you have a day set aside for rest? What do you do during that day? Does it include both physical rest and spiritual renewal? If not, you are not truly resting.
• Do you start each week with a renewed strength for labour and a strong desire to serve the Lord? If not, you are likely not properly using your time of rest.

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask God to help you understand the purpose of rest.
• Ask the Lord to teach you how to rest.

HYMN

TAKE TIME TO BE HOLY

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