A Cute Puppy Picture

This is Gabby. Gabby is my parent's 8 week old Golden Retriever. Gabby likes to eat, play and mostly...rest. 

She rests in the morning. She rests mid-morning. She rests before and after lunch. She rests in the early afternoon, the mid afternoon, and the late afternoon. She rests at supper and at night. 

She rests, because she's tired a lot.

Knowing that puppies get tired, my parents bought a really fancy bed for Gabby so that she could get good rest. It's warm. Cozy. Plush. Perfect for a puppy. 

Check out this picture. There she is, literally, inches away from the comfort of her own bed, instead opting for the  uncomfortable coldness of linoleum. 

How silly!

But I can't help but think that we do the same thing. 

For instance, we run from school, to the YMCA, to Taekwondo practice just to keep our kids entertained. We  work late into the night to finish deadlines that our iPhones remind us about. Our minds are swirling with deadlines, tasks, and to dos that the mental anguish wipes us out!

In other words, we're tired as a puppy!

Knowing we'd be tired in this life, Jesus himself says, "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest!" (Mt. 11:28)

We look over at the devotional book by our mantle and pass out half way through thinking about opening the cover. 

Paul reminds us that "Our comfort abounds through Christ." (2 Cor. 1:5) 

We think comfort comes from a glass of scotch and a marathon of House  reruns on Hulu late into the night. 

Jesus says, "Take my yoke upon you and you will find rest for your souls." (Mt. 11:29)

We take upon ourselves more and more earthly tasks in hopes that the feeling of accomplishment will give us rest.

It won't. 

So, we're kinda like Gabby the puppy. Our comfort of perfect rest in Jesus is right there, but we stop short. Instead, we choose the cold, hard, un-restful comforts of this world!

How silly! 

Because true rest is only found in Jesus. Only in Jesus can anyone rest from mental anguish of their past sins. Only in Jesus can anyone find the comfort that  God loves you even if you don't complete all the tasks on your to do list. Only in Jesus can anyone find the gentle peace of his continual love in the midst of the hurried and frantic events of tomorrow.

True rest is only found in Jesus. 

So, even though it can be hard, make it to your spiritual bed. Read that late night devotion. Stop work for that midday prayer. Go to that evening Bible study. Get up for church on a Sunday morning. 

Don't miss out on this comfort. Make it to your divine bed. Find some spiritual peace.

Rest. Now. Always. Forever. In the bed of Jesus' forgiving love. 

PRAYER: Dear LORD of all rest, I must admit that I do not always turn to you for rest. In fact, I don't turn to you much at all. Forgive me Lord. Forgive me for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, who is our rest. Give me rest in knowing about your forgiveness. Give me strength to turn to you day after day for rest and comfort. In Jesus' name, Amen. 

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