Exodus 31
Today’s Passage: Exodus 31
Today we get to talk about something that we love talking about but are not very good at living out (myself included)... REST.
We live in a world that idolizes busyness. Whenever you ask someone how they are doing or how life has been we often say “busy”. We wear it as a badge of honor. It seems to be that we feel like the busier we are the more important we are.
The Bible takes a balanced approach. It commands against idleness. It commands against laziness. It commands against self-sufficiency. It commands against being a workaholic. The Bible does command us to pursue intentional rest while running hard in life to the glory of God.
Rest is important. We are finite. We only have a certain amount of energy. It keeps us dependent upon God - who needs no rest.
Rest is modeled by Jesus. If you turn over to Mark 1 you see Jesus has a very busy day. He was healing the sick. He was doing ministry. He was working hard. He rose early that morning and went and rested in God’s presence. He wanted it. We need it.
Rest is commanded. As we see here in Exodus 31. Rest is a command from God. When we run non stop without intentional rest we aren’t working hard - we are living disobedient and contrary to the way that God has designed us.
What else do we learn about rest from Exodus 31?
1) It keeps us dependent (v.13)
2) It is between you and God not between you and your to do list (v.12-13)
3) There are consequences for not resting (v.14)
I believe Jesus has fully completed the law and died for sin - therefore we may not face death when we don’t rest, but we do face burning out.
4) It keeps you going (v.15)
We have all had that day off that kept us running well in our job, with Jesus, and with our family. It just refreshes us. It is like cold water on a hot day.
5) It helps us keep our eyes on Jesus (v.16)
6) It is following the model set by God (v.17)
Another thing to add. Resting is about more than sleeping. It's about spending time in God’s presence intentionally. It's about investing in our families. It's about enjoying things that recharge us.
Without it we are in danger of burnout, falling into sin, and other things.
Again, rest is not idleness or laziness. The Bible commands us to pursue intentional rest while running hard in life to the glory of God.
We should serve. We should invest our time into others. But we have to have a priority list nearby to not overextend to where we can no longer rest.
We have to have a RHYTHM of rest. Just like Exodus 31 described. It's easy to run hard when you know that rest is right around the corner.
Lance Witt, in a book he wrote called “High Impact Teams”, described it like this…
“I hate the word balance. It conjures up an image of 10 plates at the same time while just trying to keep one from breaking. But I love the word rhythm. Rhythm portrays something very different. Balance is an elusive dream, but rhythm is a beautiful dance. Rhythm is a choice I make. It allows for busy seasons and the unexpected. A God ordained rhythm will allow us to live and lead from a healthy soul.
That rhythm is:
Work → Rest
Produce → Restore
Go Hard → Stop
Exert Energy → Replenish Energy
Empty our bucket → Fill our bucket”
Rhythm and rest is really all about faithfulness - not just to God but to all He has called you to do and be. We need to learn the easy way or we will learn the hard way.
In the busy times we can thank God for the cross. Jesus has justified us so we no longer have to “perform”. Now we can be freed up to live obediently as best as we can in this area.
How does God want you to grow in your “rest’?
Written By: Nick Parsons
Today we get to talk about something that we love talking about but are not very good at living out (myself included)... REST.
We live in a world that idolizes busyness. Whenever you ask someone how they are doing or how life has been we often say “busy”. We wear it as a badge of honor. It seems to be that we feel like the busier we are the more important we are.
The Bible takes a balanced approach. It commands against idleness. It commands against laziness. It commands against self-sufficiency. It commands against being a workaholic. The Bible does command us to pursue intentional rest while running hard in life to the glory of God.
Rest is important. We are finite. We only have a certain amount of energy. It keeps us dependent upon God - who needs no rest.
Rest is modeled by Jesus. If you turn over to Mark 1 you see Jesus has a very busy day. He was healing the sick. He was doing ministry. He was working hard. He rose early that morning and went and rested in God’s presence. He wanted it. We need it.
Rest is commanded. As we see here in Exodus 31. Rest is a command from God. When we run non stop without intentional rest we aren’t working hard - we are living disobedient and contrary to the way that God has designed us.
What else do we learn about rest from Exodus 31?
1) It keeps us dependent (v.13)
2) It is between you and God not between you and your to do list (v.12-13)
3) There are consequences for not resting (v.14)
I believe Jesus has fully completed the law and died for sin - therefore we may not face death when we don’t rest, but we do face burning out.
4) It keeps you going (v.15)
We have all had that day off that kept us running well in our job, with Jesus, and with our family. It just refreshes us. It is like cold water on a hot day.
5) It helps us keep our eyes on Jesus (v.16)
6) It is following the model set by God (v.17)
Another thing to add. Resting is about more than sleeping. It's about spending time in God’s presence intentionally. It's about investing in our families. It's about enjoying things that recharge us.
Without it we are in danger of burnout, falling into sin, and other things.
Again, rest is not idleness or laziness. The Bible commands us to pursue intentional rest while running hard in life to the glory of God.
We should serve. We should invest our time into others. But we have to have a priority list nearby to not overextend to where we can no longer rest.
We have to have a RHYTHM of rest. Just like Exodus 31 described. It's easy to run hard when you know that rest is right around the corner.
Lance Witt, in a book he wrote called “High Impact Teams”, described it like this…
“I hate the word balance. It conjures up an image of 10 plates at the same time while just trying to keep one from breaking. But I love the word rhythm. Rhythm portrays something very different. Balance is an elusive dream, but rhythm is a beautiful dance. Rhythm is a choice I make. It allows for busy seasons and the unexpected. A God ordained rhythm will allow us to live and lead from a healthy soul.
That rhythm is:
Work → Rest
Produce → Restore
Go Hard → Stop
Exert Energy → Replenish Energy
Empty our bucket → Fill our bucket”
Rhythm and rest is really all about faithfulness - not just to God but to all He has called you to do and be. We need to learn the easy way or we will learn the hard way.
In the busy times we can thank God for the cross. Jesus has justified us so we no longer have to “perform”. Now we can be freed up to live obediently as best as we can in this area.
How does God want you to grow in your “rest’?
Written By: Nick Parsons
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