PILGRIM'S PROGRESS – R AND R
"Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke Is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)
"Then I saw that they went on their way to a pleasant river that King David called 'the river of God' and Saint John called 'the river of the water of life.' Now since their path lay on the bank of this river, Christian and Hopeful walked with great delight and also drank of the water of the river, which was pleasant and enlivening to their weary spirits."
Lest one get the idea that the Christian life is one long struggle and is always hard, Bunyan provided a respite for Christian and Hopeful. We all need these times of R and R in our journey to Heaven. Even in the times of challenge, there can be a sense of rest as we find our peace in Christ. On either side of this river were trees that produced all kinds of fruit, and the leaves were good for healing, and they were refreshed as they ate of these good fruit. It was a good and pleasant place.
However, I cannot think that all I need is to have a revival meeting once in a while. I need to be renewed in my spirit daily. Sunday church services are good, but I need to be fed and refreshed each day by drinking at God's river and feeding on His Word. "Lord, You know I need a brand new touch; my strength from yesterday is gone. But if You'll give me, Lord, another touch, I'll have the strength to carry on." (Lanny Wolfe) My trust in in the Lord's strength.
Even in the challenging times of life, we can live in God's rest. "There remains a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His" (Hebrews 4:9-10). "Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him" (Psalm 37:7). I can rest in Him because He is trustworthy and faithful.
Love, Dad
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