Restored to Rest

It is once again the weekend. I am currently with a friend in Birmingham, Alabama attending the Gridiron Men’s Conference. Last night we heard Pastor Fred Luter talk about the need for men who are compassionate workers in the Kingdom, reaching the lost. NFL QB Drew Brees gave his personal testimony of following Jesus to impact his sphere of influence, and challenging the thousands of men in attendance to identify their own sphere and bring transformation to it. Rev. David Jeremiah then talked about how important it is for God’s men to be servants in the Kingdom, just as our Master was/is.

Today we will hear from Dr. Ben Carson. And others about the value of men in ministry. It has been very good inspiration on a Father’s Day weekend, and I expect it will continue to be today. It is intense. But at the same time it is restorative. And restoring is what the Gospel is all about, isn’t it?

Webster says that to ‘restore’ is ‘to bring back to or put back into a former or original state’. It is appropriate that this is happening on a weekend, as God blessed us with time once a week to rest. And while I can find no technical correlation between the words ‘rest’ and ‘restore’, it is impossible to miss the fact that the first four letters in ‘restore’ spell ‘rest’.

Spiritually God is moving us toward rest. Not sleep, or vacation. But a true place of rest where there is less spiritual war raging within us. There was work in the Garden of Eden. There were interpersonal relationship issues to deal with. There were serious decisions to make. The first couple was not walking around in a daydream on clouds. But there was not a constant battle in their lives bringing angst, sickness, pain, death, destruction, and separation. They weren’t fighting an uphill battle. They weren’t losing things on a regular basis.

But when they sinned, they lost the most important things they had. They lost perfect fellowship with God, peace with each other, paradise in the world. Ever since then, God has been reaching out to us trying to restore humanity to our rightful place of holiness and right standing with Him, and restoring to us those physical things we lost. It is a restoration project to bring us into a place of rest.

The word ‘rest’ is found in the Bible over 600 times. The word ‘restore’ is used in the Bible over 100 times. In one such case the writer calls upon God in this way, “Restore us, God of Hosts; look on us with favor, and we will be saved.” (Psalm 80:7) In fact, that phrase is used three times just in that one short chapter. “Restore us, God; look on us with favor, and we will be saved.” (Psalm 80:3) And again, “Restore us, Yahweh, the God of Hosts; look on us with favor, and we will be saved.” (Psalm 80:19)

Weekends are good times to be restored through and to rest. Conferences are also good ways to be restored through and to rest. I have traveled several hours to get away from my daily routine and hear some Godly men say some refreshing, recharging, and restorative things. Here are a few quotes…

“Change won’t come through the courthouse, the White House, or the school house. It will only come through the church house.” – Pastor Fred Luter

“I won’t always be able to play football. But I will always have Jesus.” – Drew Brees

“God isn’t looking for more ushers, Sunday School teachers, deacons, musicians… He is looking for more laborers.” – Rev. David Jeremiah

Today, rest, and be restored. Be restored, and find rest.

[Bible quotes are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, unless otherwise noted.]

Find more of David’s work at Heart Of Ministry.

---