Go to sleep…

 

This week’s exhortation is relatively short. I was going to write on another subject matter, but I was greatly touched by certain things that my pastor said in his message of yesterday and decided to share.

August 2013 is our month of divine rest. We have been urged to stop fighting and allow the LORD fight for us. Yesterday, Pastor taught about the correlation between faith and rest; and the supporting Scripture was Mark 4.35-41. 

“On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side." And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"”

The disciples were awake and panicked whereas Jesus is peacefully asleep. Our pastor reminded us that GOD neither slumbers nor sleeps (Ps 121:4). Therefore, He is the only One allowed to keep His eyes opened and none of us can watch for Him – besides, if He is not the one watching, whoever pretends to watch does it in vain (Ps 127:1). However, since the disciples decided to stay awake, well, GOD –in Jesus- went to sleep! “You think you can watch? Then, watch!” We know the rest.

No matter the problem or worries that may be yours right now, I would like to extend my pastor’s invitation, to rest in GOD, to you as well. Go to sleep and switch off the lights. He told you: “Let us go across to the other side.” You will get to the other side. You will not sink. He told the Israelites that He was going to lead them out of Egypt and into the desert. He kept His promise. The Red Sea and Pharaoh’s army could not stop Him from keeping His promise. Are your problems bigger than the Red Sea or greater than the Egyptian squads? No! So, stop fretting; you will cross; He is taking you to the other side.

Let’s also note than when Jesus woke up, the first thing He did was to proclaim the peace and command the sea to be still. Our pastor reminded us again that the mouth speaks out of the abundance of the heart (Mat 12:34). So, peace, calmness, assurance, rest and tranquillity were the things that filled the heart of the Son of GOD and Prince of Peace. Today as well, He is giving orders to all the storms of your life to be still.

Have a wonderful week enjoyng GOD’s rest!