Devotional Thought: GOD CAN WORK EVEN WHILE YOU REST

JESUS, WEARIED AS HE WAS SAT DOWN AND RESTED

John 4:6 ESV Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.

VERSE 6 is a comforting verse isn’t it? Some of you understand what I’m saying. “Jesus, as wearied as He was from His journey, was sitting beside the well” at about noon.

It is wonderful to see that Jesus was weary. (I BELIEVE GOD INTENTIONALLY POINTS OUT THESE LITTLE MENTIONS OF JESUS’ TIMES OF WEARINESS AND STRUGGLE TO TEACH US GREAT LESSON ABOUT OUR LIVES AND WORK. )

IT IS NOT JUST COMFORTING BUT IT IS AN EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW

IF JESUS GOT TIRES WE WILL TOO. We sometimes live as if we are supposed to have unlimited amounts of energy. Because of this we work too much, stay up too late and are way too tired all time. Our culture does not help us to believe this but: it is ok to rest. If fact it not just ok to rest it is a godly thing to do. It is a Christ like thing to do. (And if our busyness is too bad it is ungodly not to rest.

JESUS SYMPATHIZES WITH OUR WEARINESS. Hebrews 4:15 says this in reference to temptation but it also applies to other things about our human experience. So do not think that Jesus did not have to fight the temptation to do too much or be too busy.

WE NEED TO HUMBLE OURSELVES AND REST REGULARLY.

Multiple times in scripture God points out that Jesus gets away from everyone to rest and pray. He even teaches His disciples to do the same. (If only we thought this example was as important than others to follow.)

Mark 6:31 ESV

And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.

(Back to Jesus, resting at the well…)

John 4:6 ESV

Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.

(Now this is just a fact to point out the surface reason as to why He was at the well, but it illustrates that Jesus grew weary as we get. But it also demonstrates that JESUS’ WEARINESS AND PHYSICAL WEAKNESS DID NOT HINDER GOD’S WORK! in fact God used it in a way to bring about the greater reason Jesus was there.)

Are you weary from your journey? (In your life or the week or the work God has given you to do?) Jesus knows exactly how you feel! He experienced being tired and hungry and thirsty! His example here also shows that the weariness did not hinder God’s plan. God is very good at being strong when we are weak. The weariness He experienced was all worth it to fulfill the mission that God sent Him there for. If Jesus got tired, we will too. And if Jesus needed to rest, we do to! And if God can work despite Jesus’ weariness and even through it, He can do the same in us! BUT...

Sometimes we work so hard and keep going when we need to rest as if God cannot work if we stop. God worked here while Jesus was resting. Jesus did all that He did while regularly resting. Jesus is about to do great things in the middle of resting!

IF WE ARE NOT RESTING AS IF IT ALL DEPENDS ON US THEN WE ARE NOT WORKING IN FAITH. WE NEED TO HAVE FAITH THAT GOD IS WORKING AS WELL.

John 5:17 ESV

But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”

IF FACT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT GOD IS GOING TO DO IS GOING TO BE MUCH MORE IMPORTANT AND POWERFUL THAN WHAT WE COULD EVER DO.

IN OTHER WORDS HE IS GOING TO DO MOST OF THE WORK. HIS PART IS GOING TO MAKE OUR PART POSSIBLE!