May8-14: Rest and Restoration

Teaching Points

1. Who created rest? Read Gen. 2:2,3; 1:16-18 and contemplate the following questions.

QUESTIONS:

• Who rested?
• Who created night and time?
• Who created rest?
• Who owns time? 

2. Why did God create the Sabbath?   

ANSWER:

• Exo. 23:12—so that all can rest and be refreshed.

3. What special preparation did God ask for so the Israelites could truly rest on the Sabbath?    

ANSWER:

• Exodus 16:23-26—Preparing food ahead of times so that they could rest on the Sabbath.

4. How can we experience the greatest joy and rest in the Sabbath?    

ANSWER:

• Isa 58:13, 14—Not trampling the Sabbath, doing our pleasure, our ways, or speaking our words but by calling the Sabbath a delight, honoring God

OBSERVATION:

• God created time and rest daily and weekly.
• God knows that we need daily rest and weekly rest. This is why he created darkness and the Sabbath.
• God owns time and the Sabbath. 
• If we claim we have no time for rest and yet God owns our time and made time for rest, then either God made a mistake by putting too few hours in the day, or perhaps we need to organize our time better.

5. What can make our rest time sweet and more restful?    

ANSWER:

• Eccl. 5:12—hard work.
• Pro. 3:13, 24—Wisdom gives freedom from fear which leads to good sleep.

6. Did Jesus understand the need to take time out for rest?    

ANSWER:

• Mark 6:31—Jesus called the disciples out to rest because there was so much interaction with people they did not have time to eat.

7. What beautiful invitation does Jesus give us to rest?

ANSWER:

• Matthew 11:28-30—Come unto me… and I will give you rest.

OBSERVATION:

• Good sleep comes from hard work and wisdom—freedom from fear.
• Jesus did not want the disciples to be overworked so He took them apart for rest—a fitting illustration of what to do when we find ourselves in a similar situation.
• Jesus gives us a beautiful invitation to come to Him for rest. Working with Jesus makes the load lighter and easier to bear. It gives joy to the heart and rest to the soul.

SOP:

• Only a reasonable amount of labor should be required, and for this the worker should receive a reasonable wage. If helpers are not given proper periods for rest from their taxing labor, they will lose their strength and vitality. They can not possibly do justice to the work, nor can they represent what a sanitarium employee should be. More helpers should be employed if necessary, and the work should be so arranged that when one has performed a day's labor, he may be freed to take the rest necessary to the maintenance of his strength.  {SpTB19 36.2}
• Jesus invites you, in words that touch the heart with their compassionate love and pity. He says: "Come unto me, all ye that labor 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." Have you experienced this blessed rest, or do you slight this invitation to make a confidant of Jesus? Do you pour out your trials and grievances into human ears? Do you go for help to those who cannot give you rest, and neglect the loving call of the mighty Saviour? Have faith in God. Believe in the precious promises. Go to Jesus in childlike simplicity, and say, "Lord, I have borne these burdens as long as I can, and now I lay them upon the Burden-bearer." Do not gather them up again, but leave them all with Jesus. Go away free, for Jesus has set you free. He said, "I will give you rest." Take him at his word. Instead of your own galling yoke of care, wear the yoke of Christ. He says: "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Learn of him; for he is "meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." Fix your eyes upon Jesus. He is the light of the world, and he declares, "He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."  {RH, September 16, 1890 par. 7} 
• Jesus says, "Abide in Me." These words convey the idea of rest, stability, confidence. Again He invites,"Come unto Me, . . . and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28. The words of the psalmist express the same thought: "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him." And Isaiah gives the assurance, "In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength." Psalm 37:7; Isaiah 30:15. This rest is not found in inactivity; for in the Saviour's invitation the promise of rest is united with the call to labor: "Take My yoke upon you: . . . and ye shall find rest." Matthew 11:29. The heart that rests most fully upon Christ will be most earnest and active in labor for Him.  {SC 71.1}  

CONCLUSION:

• God knew we needed rest and he created time for it.
• Nighttime and the Sabbath were given to refresh us.
• God wants us to prepare for the Sabbath so that we can have as much refreshment as possible.
• Hard work along with God’s wisdom will help us have good sound sleep.
• Jesus invites us to unite with Him and He will lighten our load.

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

• Do you feel rested or tired?
• Are you enjoying full rest in the Sabbath by preparing ahead for it?
• Are you working hard—getting enough physical exercise and seeking God’s wisdom so you can sleep.
• Are you coming to Jesus and trusting yourself in His hands that you may experience spiritual rest?