SUNDAY, APRIL 19
TEXT: Jeremiah 17:19-27
KEY VERSE: “Neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers.” – (Jeremiah 17:22)
Good rest is necessary for recuperation and maintenance of the entire body system. Wearied and exhausted, man goes to bed at night and wakes up refreshed and ready for the new day’s activities. God Himself observed the seventh day after the creation as a day of rest.
God re-emphasised the need for Israel to keep Sabbath. They were not to bear any kind of burden on the day. If they obeyed and properly observed it, it would yield good dividends resulting in “kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David”. And people will come from far and near with diverse offerings, incense and “sacrifices of praise, unto the house of the LORD” (verse 25, 26). But failure to observe this will bring God’s judgment (verse 27).
Today, many are so busy with work. They work night and day. Some take two or three jobs in order “to make both ends meet”. Work is good, as man must labour to take care of his needs and of the family but “except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it” (Psalm 127:1), It must not be done at the expense of one’s health, family life or worship of God.
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But there is another kind of rest-a better one. This rest comes from knowing God through Christ. It gives justification (Romans 5:1) which offers peace here on earth as one holds on to Christ. There is also the final rest with God in heaven. This rest is bountiful, unsurpassable and eternally blissful. But there is the need to labour for the time being to enter that rest (Hebrews 4:11). The labour involved is to walk by faith and steadfastness, preach the gospel and win souls for the Lord and serve Him unreservedly in sincerity and holiness.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Rest in Christ is the true rest.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Acts 26-28
