What is this Rest You Speak of?

 It’s the rest the Lord speaks of.  Let’s just start with this…

Busyness is often confused with productivity.  They ARE NOT one in the same.

Have we ever been busier?  Running to and fro.  We look impressive, sort of, but how much of what comes out of that is useful, beneficial, productive?  I don’t know.  That’s something we each have to answer, but I know I’ve looked up many a day feeling worn out from my busyness to find it was much ado about nothing.  Or worse still, I spent a whole lot of time working on something I could’ve been done with a long time ago.  What’s that movie title… “Fools Rush In?”

Thank God, that’s not His way.  His way is starting from a place of rest; enjoying time in His presence and time in His Word learning about it.  It’s not about clocking in a certain amount of time, its’ a lifestyle.  David tipped us off to this years ago when he wrote these inspired words…

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.  He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Psalm 23:1-3

Why all this enjoyment of the word and Spirit-led worship?  So He can lead us on the right path.  Wouldn’t it be great to know the right thing to do at the right time?  Ahhh, yes it would.  It can happen when you start the right way, doing the “one thing needful.”

Tense and flustered, by her self-imposed burden, she noticed her sister listening restfully at Jesus’ feet and took offense.  How could He chatter on with Mary while I’m working tirelessly for Him!  She didn’t just think it, she said as much to Him—and so have I.  With gentleness and tact, Jesus assured Martha that Mary’s perspective was the better of the two.  Mary perceived her own need and saw Jesus as THE supply.  She didn’t see her neediness as something to be hidden, not in the presence of unceasing supply.  She chose to fill up on Him before doing anything.  The world would have us all be permanent Martha’s, reacting immediately, running to and fro.  DADDY God’s way is facing life after fully satisfying ourselves with the Holy Spirit’s revelation of Jesus in the Word.  Mary rested at Jesus’ feet listening to His every word. — excerpt from my upcoming book

Regarding these opposite perspectives, Jesus said, “But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her (Luke 10:42).”  Don’t rob yourself of that good part, or let anyone else take it from you either.