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Exodus 33:14 - God's Presence and Rest.Exodus 33:14 (NIV) The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."COMMENTARY PEARL The yoke is placed upon the oxen to aid them in drawing the load, to lighten the burden. So with the yoke of Christ. When our will is swallowed up in the will of God, and we use His gifts to bless others, we shall find life's burden light. He who walks in the way of God's commandments is walking in company with Christ, and in His love the heart is at rest. When Moses prayed, "Show me now Thy way, that I may know Thee," the Lord answered him, "My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest." And through the prophets the message was given, "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls." Ex. 33:13, 14; Jer. 6:16. And He says, "O that thou hadst hearkened to My commandments" then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea." Isa. 48:18. Those who take Christ at His word, and surrender their souls to His keeping, their lives to His ordering, will find peace and quietude. Nothing of the world can make them sad when Jesus makes them glad by His presence. In perfect acquiescence there is perfect rest. The Lord says, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee." Isa. 26:3. Our lives may seem a tangle; but as we commit ourselves to the wise Master Worker, He will bring out the pattern of life and character that will be to His own glory. And that character which expresses the glory - character - of Christ will be received into the Paradise of God. A renovated race shall walk with Him in white, for they are worthy. As through Jesus we enter into rest, heaven begins here. We respond to His invitation, Come, learn of Me, and in thus coming we begin the life eternal. Heaven is a ceaseless approaching to God through Christ. The longer we are in the heaven of bliss, the more and still more of glory will be opened to us; and the more we know of God, the more intense will be our happiness. As we walk with Jesus in this life, we may be filled with His love, satisfied with His presence. All that human nature can bear, we may receive here. But what is this compared with the hereafter? There "are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." Rev. 7:15-17. {DA 331} COMMENTARY Every year as the date of my breast cancer surgery passes, I celebrate. Nothing elaborate; no parties or expensive meals in fancy restaurants are necessary. In fact, the greater the length of time that goes by, the more introspective my observances of this blessing have become. For the last decade, I've shared my gratefulness and awe with Jesus alone. One of the lessons He's taught me post-surgery was the importance of slowing down. For many years, I based my self-value on how much I could accomplish daily. Every waking minute that didn't produce tangible outcomes, I considered a waste. As a result, I adopted lifestyle choices that might have affected my emotional and physical health. This week, as my special anniversary approaches, I once again find time crunched and busyness snowballing, threatening to avalanche my well-being. I call this condition "rest cancer," and it requires immediate action. Left untreated, it can lead to exhaustion, anger, and tears. The worst symptom is distancing myself from Jesus. Thankfully, the ailment is treatable. Quiet time spent with Jesus proves the most effective cure. Communing with Him in prayer, reading the Bible, and seeking His peace in nature lead to the deep, restoring soul rest only He can provide. For now, I sit on my porch rocker, breathing in the scent of sweet alyssum. Songbirds circle their feeder, and a warm breeze caresses my face. I meditate on His Presence and cast my endless to-do lists aside. Free of rest cancer, I rest in Him. Heidi Gaul Faith Step: No matter how full your day, set aside a few minutes to simply breathe, pray, and listen. Rest in Jesus. [Mornings With Jesus 2025 Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan] LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY Exodus 33:14 - God's Presence And Rest. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230202-0916.html http://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220308-1107.html Psalm 23:2 - Green Pastures and Still Waters from the Lord. http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210129-1030.html Colossians 3:15 - Let the Peace of God Rule in Your Hearts. http://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230130-0851.html Philippians 4:6-8 - Cure For Anxiety And Worry. http://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220624-0817.html 1 Peter 5:7 - Shifting the Burden. http://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220715-0813.html LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT https://abible.com/links/ |