August’s Verse - Finding Rest
04/08/09 12:06 Filed in: Bible
Have you ever watched white-water rafting? You see these fragile crafts hurtling down through some narrow gorge, through the rapids, passengers hanging on for dear life, looking certain to be upended and dashed to pieces on the rocks. And sometimes, you see a guy in a canoe sitting at some crucial point ready to spring into action to rescue some unfortunate once-upon-a-time passenger.
But look at the canoeist—although the river is rushing at a terrifying rate of knots, he seems to be completely at rest with little or no effort. He has found himself a spot behind some rock where the current is reduced to a quiet little eddy. And whilst raft and the river flash past, in varying degrees of control, he is at rest.
The scene reminds me of life. Sometimes I’m the one in the raft, hanging on for all I’m worth, as one thing after another crops up, certain that the point will come when I can’t hold on anymore. Have you been there? Life racing by, on the verge of being out of control, or perhaps past that point of no return where it is beyond your control. The time was when the pace of events was fun, but now you’re worn out trying to hang on. Even when you try to rest, your mind races, tumbling and turning from one thing to another. And all you want is rest, some rest—a moment of calm, a rock to shelter behind.
It’s for such occasions and people that Jesus once said, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
He knows what it is like to be tired, to be hurting, to be alone, to live life with a crushing burden, to be rejected and despised, to be swept along towards a crushing destiny. He knows. And he offers to be that rock of shelter that gives you rest and peace, even amidst the storms. ‘Rest’ is one of the most beautiful concepts, and the rest that Jesus offers is deeper and longer than anything that can be found anywhere else.
How? Jesus says, “Come to me”; but note, he doesn’t say, “Bring me your problems.” “Come to me” is an invitation to come personally to Jesus, to enter into a relationship with him, not simply to use him as a problem-solver. And when you trust the King of the Universe because of his relationship with you, rest and peace is an evitable consequence.
Mark Loughridge is the minister of Milford Reformed Presbyterian Church. He can be contacted on 074 9123961 or mark@milfordrpc.org. You can read more or listen online at www.milfordrpc.org
But look at the canoeist—although the river is rushing at a terrifying rate of knots, he seems to be completely at rest with little or no effort. He has found himself a spot behind some rock where the current is reduced to a quiet little eddy. And whilst raft and the river flash past, in varying degrees of control, he is at rest.
The scene reminds me of life. Sometimes I’m the one in the raft, hanging on for all I’m worth, as one thing after another crops up, certain that the point will come when I can’t hold on anymore. Have you been there? Life racing by, on the verge of being out of control, or perhaps past that point of no return where it is beyond your control. The time was when the pace of events was fun, but now you’re worn out trying to hang on. Even when you try to rest, your mind races, tumbling and turning from one thing to another. And all you want is rest, some rest—a moment of calm, a rock to shelter behind.
It’s for such occasions and people that Jesus once said, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
He knows what it is like to be tired, to be hurting, to be alone, to live life with a crushing burden, to be rejected and despised, to be swept along towards a crushing destiny. He knows. And he offers to be that rock of shelter that gives you rest and peace, even amidst the storms. ‘Rest’ is one of the most beautiful concepts, and the rest that Jesus offers is deeper and longer than anything that can be found anywhere else.
How? Jesus says, “Come to me”; but note, he doesn’t say, “Bring me your problems.” “Come to me” is an invitation to come personally to Jesus, to enter into a relationship with him, not simply to use him as a problem-solver. And when you trust the King of the Universe because of his relationship with you, rest and peace is an evitable consequence.
Mark Loughridge is the minister of Milford Reformed Presbyterian Church. He can be contacted on 074 9123961 or mark@milfordrpc.org. You can read more or listen online at www.milfordrpc.org