Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matt 11:28

I pray that you had a blessed and wonderful day of worship with your local church on the Lord’s Day. Continue to be blessed in the week ahead. Recently I was encouragement from a friend to take some time, relax, slow down and do nothing. That may seem exciting at first, but I have found it difficult to put into practice. You see, activity is a major part of who we are. If allowed, activities can consume all our time and energy and become what we are known for. Our activities can become our identity. The scripture passage encourages us to spend time with the Father to know Him and find real purpose and meaning for life. Jesus invites us to “Come…and I will give you rest.” Jesus understood how important identity was in life. He understood how hard people work to create an identity. He was challenged and questioned by Satan (Lk 4:3), religious leaders (Lk 22:66), and many others (Jn 10:24) about His identity. Jesus never lost sight of who He was or His purpose. He accepted and committed Himself to the purpose that the Father had sent Him (Jn 7:16) and doing the work of the Father, He was at peace and rest. My friend, Jesus is not asking us to cease from our labors, but “come unto Me (Jesus)” for purpose and meaning in all our labors and “He will direct your paths” (Prov 3:6). With Him and in His presence is where we find strength for the day and “rest” to continue for the days ahead. Dear friend, “humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Pet 5:6-7). What do you think is God purpose for your life? Come to Him and He “will give you rest” in your labor with Him. Father, thank You for the promise of rest in Your Son. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.

Teach me Thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. Ps 27:11

As we make preparation for each day, our minds begin to fill with ideas and thoughts for things that we may face, but little consideration is given to prepare for the unknown things. If things go according to how we imagined, the day is considered a good day. However, it is the unknown things that challenge and change our days, and often lead us in circles. If given the choice, most people won’t ask for help or admit that they don’t know something. What a difference a teachable spirit would make. The scripture passage reminds us that God has a way for each of our lives and we must be taught and lead by Him to find the way for our life. God has a unique purpose for each of His children. However, too often our time is spent in attempts to do and accomplish things for our pleasure, that appease our passion, and satisfy our self-determined purposes. For many, the bible is read more out of duty, than for direction. In this passage we see the humility of the psalmist when he asks, “teach me Thy way, O Lord” and the weakness in his humanity to pray “lead me in the plain path.” He instructs us to maintain a teachable spirit to look to God, learn from God, and live by His power and provisions. Jesus taught His disciples to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Mt 6:33) as the manner for which they were to live. He also taught them that the Father is the One who must lead them and when they pray ask “lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil” (Mt 6:13). My friend, prepare your heart each day with a teachable spirit and determine to know His will and His way for your life. Pray for wisdom to do what you can do, look to Him, and lean of His understanding, and then wait on the Lord by faith for the results (Prov 3:5-6). You will find that He will lead you “in a plain path” and away from the things that frustrate, things that cause us to go in circles, and things that cause regret. You can know the God of peace and discover more of His eternal love through sincere prayer to ask of Him and seek direction through His word. Father thank You for the plan and purpose that You created in our lives. Help us to remain humble and teachable that we may “walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him” (Col 1:10). In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.

His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it. John 2:5

We all respond in different ways when “called to action.” Sometimes we respond immediately without hesitation.  Other times, we may not be so responsive, even disregard the ask as unimportant or not applicable. Yet at the core of one’s response is a recognition of authority and the relationship one has with that authority. The scripture passage reminds us of how we ought to respond to Jesus’ authority and the word of God. Our response to the word of God demonstrates our relationship with Jesus Christ and our recognition for His authority. Mary, the mother of Jesus, who had “found favor with God” (Lk 1:30), submitted herself a “maidservant of the Lord” (Lk 1:38), surrendered herself to do God’s will in her life. She believed God and recognized Jesus’ authority as the Son of God. She told the servants at the wedding “whatsoever He saith unto you, do it.” In her response, Mary relinquished her parental authority that she might continue to submit to God’s Divine authority. We can see from her response that she decreased herself, directed others’ attention to Jesus, and demonstrated confidence in the His authority. My friend, there is no greater love and honor that one can have for God the Father than to recognize Jesus, His Son, and His authority in their life. What has been your response to the word of God? Have you heard God direct you in way that you may exalt His Son, even in the simplest of things? Is there someone that you have been meaning to call, but have not the time? A sick neighbor? A student away from home? A friend who has lost dear loved one. Or someone who has become withdrawn and distanced. Recognize these things as of the Lord and hear Him say “do it.” Father let it be unto me that wherever You lead, I will go. Whatever You say unto me, I will do it. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.