Come apart and Rest…

The last 2+ weeks I have been traveling…first to our July ARME Bible Camp Conference in Colorado, and now to the ASI international convention in Florida. I've been leading prayer ministry at both, as well as being involved in many other things. The coming months show now signs of slowing down as I have to complete the writing project, and then I will be returning to the General Conference for more prayer ministry!

Right now I think of Mark 6:31. Here we see a refreshing call from Jesus. “Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest awhile.” When Jesus spoke these words, we are told people were constantly coming and going, and they were so busy that they hardly even had time to eat. (Sound like our lives today?)

That’s why Christ calls us to come apart. Not just for our own selfish pleasure, but to have time to really be re-energized and re-focus our gaze on Him.

“The rest which Christ and His disciples took was not self-indulgent rest. The time they spent in retirement was not devoted to pleasure seeking… He opened more fully to them the precious treasures of divine truth. They were vitalized by divine power, and inspired with hope and courage.

Though Jesus could work miracles, and had empowered His disciples to work miracles, He directed His worn servants to go apart into the country and rest. When He said that the harvest was great, and the laborers were few, He did not urge upon His disciples the necessity of ceaseless toil, but said, “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:38)

“Christ’s words of compassion are spoken to His workers today just as surely as they were spoken to His disciples. “Come ye yourselves apart, ... and rest awhile,” He says to those who are worn and weary. It is not wise to be always under the strain of work and excitement, even in ministering to men’s spiritual needs; for in this way personal piety is neglected, and the powers of mind and soul and body are overtaxed. Self-denial is required of the disciples of Christ, and sacrifices must be made; but care must also be exercised lest through their over zeal Satan take advantage of the weakness of humanity, and the work of God be marred.”[i]

Zeal for God’s work is good! But if our zeal for accomplishment leads us ahead of our personal zeal to know the Lord more fully, soon both will die, and we will be left as dry bone in the desert with no life and power.

So no matter how busy we are, let's make sure we keep taking the time to come apart and rest in His presence. This is our only strength and safety! 

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[i] Passage taken from Desire of Ages, p. 361-362