Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

28 February 2025

Reading From Mark 6:30-56

“The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.”

—Mark 6:30-34

     Jesus and His apostles met for a debriefing following the mission He sent them on in verses 6-13.  I would have loved to have listened in and heard their stories and teachings.  I’m so grateful for the Bible, that it is the written record of His revelations, signs and wonders.  The Apostle John wrote that, “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”[1]

     The Lord knew the importance of rest and the value of solitude.  We see this throughout the gospel records as He prioritized recharging and refreshing.  His work was never done and yet we find Him being intentional about relaxing. No one knows the value of this more than He because He is the One who created the concept of Sabbath.  As He said in Mark 2:27-28, “And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.” 

     In our 24-7 modern culture, we need to sound the alarm that enough is enough!  If we do not begin to value dedicated times and seasons of rest and worship, we will wear out, burn out and lash out.  I speak from experience on this matter.  For many years I had a career that required my attention seven days a week.  It was an unhealthy lifestyle and I learned from it the value of the Sabbath.  Trust me, six days of work per week is enough.  Find moments to steal away to a quiet space where you can relax, perhaps meditate on the Word of God, listen for His voice and be refreshed and recharged.  You’ll thank the Lord for it.

     Sometimes obedience requires sacrifice.  We sacrifice our own will to submit to His.  If I find myself in a busy season of life (which lately seems to be every season), it might be necessary to pay for childcare so I can have a few hours to refocus.  Perhaps if one has a high demand career that seems to consume every waking minute, then it is time to unplug from all technology and communication in order to commune with our Creator, the Lord of the Sabbath.

“Lord Jesus, I repent of my constant busyness.  I pray that I would prioritize rest and worship.  Open my eyes to the benefits of obedience to the principles of Your Word.  I ask for Your Holy Spirit’s guidance in how to apply Your precepts in my everyday life and ministry.  Awaken my soul with Your rains of refreshment that I would rejoice in Your reign.  In the Name of King Jesus I pray these things, Amen.”

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work,but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

                                                       —Exodus 20:8-11                   

Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

—Colossians 2:16-17

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

—Galatians 5:13-15

God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted:

“Today, if you hear his voice,
    do not harden your hearts.”

For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works,just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience

Hebrews 4:7-11

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[1] John 21:25