Daily Christmas Encouragement

(Devotionals by Pastor Wayne Taylor)

Ministry of Sleeping

"Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son.  And he called His name Jesus." (Matthew 1:24, 25)

Wouldn't it be great to have a ministry of sleeping?  I'd like the Lord to call me to that kind of ministry.  Unfortunately, God doesn't call us to a ministry of sleeping, but He is calling us to a ministry of resting.    

It's so easy in today's world to be burdened with anxieties and insecurities, and to be stressed out with all our busyness and expectations.  Christ the Great Shepherd wants to give you the rest that David found in the Lord when he said, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters" (Psalm 23:1, 2). 

There is incredible rest, peace, security, and fulfillment in trusting your life to Jesus Christ.  "For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His" (Hebrews 4:10).  Christ gives His rest to you as a gift when you trust Him. 

When Jesus died on the cross, "He said, 'It is finished!'  And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit" (John 19:30b).  "Bowing" is the Greek word used for resting your head on a pillow.  Jesus was resting in the finished work He accomplished.  Thanks to Jesus' great work on the cross for our sins, God is fully satisfied.  You can rest in Him today.

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."   (Matthew 11:28) 

(Sent by permission from Pastor Wayne Taylor; info@calvaryfellowship.org)