Choosing Rest in the Master

“In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever; till my raptured soul shall find rest beyond the river”.

Frances J. Crosby, 1869

Near the Cross is a timeless hymn. While doctrinal issues may arise within the faith, we can all agree on “rest beyond the river”. Christ gives us our rest.

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV).

According to the book, The Mind’s Machine: Foundations of Brain and Behavior, excessive sleep deprivation creates holes in the prefrontal cortex of our brains. The prefrontal cortex is the region of the brain where we plan, think, express our personality, make decisions, moderate social behavior, and control emotional impulses. If this is a physical consequence, we must consider the spiritual effects of failing to rest in the Master. We must rest physically and spiritually. We were created to rest by design (Mark 2:27). There is “rest beyond the river”, but we must cross over to the One who holds life. Christ gives us our rest, but we must be willing to receive it.

I pray we find rest from this weary world in the hope, word, redemption, and peace of Jesus Christ.

There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us, therefore, be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.

Hebrew 4:9-11

Shalom,

Kelly Vonner, Restoring the Branches Ministry