by As we faithfully labor for our Lord, we can become spiritually weary in our well doing. If we serve Him in the flesh, we definitely become weary as Martha did in Luke 10:38-42. When we hit this weary state in our Christian walk, we have a choice to make: throw up our arms and quit or trust God through it.
Our soul needs rest on this side of the grave because it becomes wearied in our sinful flesh. Jesus knew this and comforted us in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
The word “easy” means “fit, suitable, well adapted to fulfill a purpose.” The word “light” means “light in weight, quick, agile.” The word “learn” points to the context coming into these verses, discipleship. These verses are not about our labors coming to an end, but us becoming suitable and agile where God has called us to serve. Work will remain laborious and wearisome on earth because we still serve Him “in the sweat of thy face” (Genesis 3:19). However, the same labors we have been performing for His name’s sake, as we become His disciples, we become physically and spiritually adapted to our place of service. Thus, when we take Jesus’ yoke we are choosing to become His disciple, submitting ourselves to His calling and training to serve Him, trusting His power and rest in our bodies and souls.
There comes a time when we need to step back and recoup. The word “rest” means “intermission, cessation of any motion, recreation.” The man Christ Jesus needed this on a regular basis, and His place of rest was up in the mountains. This was not a recreational camping trip as we would do today, but it was a time to separate from the weariness that accompanied His spiritual labor in His earthly body.
Paul said in Galatians 6:9, “let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” We can avoid “weary” and “faint” in our labors if when trust Jesus’ “rest” in Matthew 11:28-30.
