Thought of the Day: Rest Optional?

Greetings in Christ Jesus, Fellow Soldiers.

Most of us work every day of the week, usually for 12+ hours each day. Outside of those twelve hours, we try to do everything else we feel we need to do: laundry, workout, call the family, etc. It is easy to say "I'd love to rest, but I don't have the time."

The only problem is, we need to rest--not only for our physical endurance and mental resilience, but also for the refreshment of our souls. Jesus said "Come to me, you who are weary, and I will give you rest." He didn't say "If you have time..."

We need to rest in Christ. We need to rest in Christ each through reading the word and spending time in prayer ("Meditate on the word day and night."--Joshua 1). More importantly, we need to rest in Christ by attending chapel ("Do not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing."--Heb. 10). We not only do this because we are called to do it, but also because of the many gracious benefits God affords us through this time:

1) We get to hear God speak to us by His Word and Spirit through His appointed messenger.
2) We get to join in fellowship with those who will join us around the Throne when Christ returns.
3) We get to partake in the sacraments, which point us to the Day when faith becomes sight.
4) We get to celebrate our heavenly citizenship--that we are pilgrims passing through in this world.
5) We get to remember God's day of rest and continual reign after creating this world.
6) We get to remember that Jesus Christ enjoyed no rest in suffering and dying for us.
7) We get to remember that Jesus Christ's saving work has guaranteed us eternal rest.
8) We get to look forward to that eternal day of rest when God's reign is made visible.

Brothers and sisters, let us rest and celebrate!