Resting

A very good morning to you! It is Saturday morning, 25th June, the year 2022 and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.

If we go straight to the New Testament, to Mark 6:31:

“And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves”

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”

Mark 8:36

Do you remember that old saying, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”? A dear lady wrote me a message a while ago, she was broken-hearted. She said, “Please tell the people to be careful - My husband lost his family because he was addicted to work... lost the whole family.”

That is exactly what happened with the disciples. You see, they were so busy telling Jesus all the good things that they had done. You can read it in the verse before, verse 30. The apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all the things, both what they had done and what they had taught. It did not impress the Lord, His response was, “Come and rest a while.” You and I need to be very careful, I remember the Lord speaking to me once in my heart, almost audibly. He said, “Your busyness, Angus, is making me weary. Come aside.” We need to be careful. You know, we always talk about laziness which is unacceptable to God, but the opposite of laziness is just as bad - when you are working yourself to a standstill. By the way, this doesn’t only apply to men. This applies to women as well.

Remember the story of Mary and Martha? Mary was sitting at Jesus’ feet listening to the Lord speaking. Martha was running around the house, working flat out, "Lord, tell her to come and help me." And He said, “Martha, Mary has chosen the better way.” Do you know why I am sharing this? Because I was right there myself, that’s right! I was caught on that treadmill and I would use a very lame excuse. When my wife Jill said: “Angus, when are you going to come home and just be with the children and with me?” I would say, “I am doing this for you. I am keeping those fences straight and I am keeping those cattle fat, I am making sure no weeds are growing underneath the maize crop..." That wasn’t for Jill and the children, that was for my ego.

I want to say to you today, take time out and rest otherwise you might lose your very family. Jesus bless you and have a wonderful day.

Goodbye.