God Restores Us

This devotional series is called The Heart of Jesus. It consists of 28 devotions that are overflowing with God’s love for you. This devotion is about how God restores us. Jesus has a heart that restores.

God Restores Us

Come to me, all 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.

Matthew 11:28-29

The disciples were hungry. They hadn’t eaten, and they were walking through a field of grain. So, they did what any hungry person would do and started plucking the heads of grain and snacking as they went along. We’ve all had the road trip munchies, right?

Well, there was a problem. It just so happened to be the Sabbath. Jews aren’t allowed to work on the Sabbath and plucking grain counted as working. But when the Pharisees called them out, Jesus said: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27).

I love the reminder that God didn’t make rules so we would fall in line. He gave us rules so we could be all He created us to be. Jesus said He came that we could have abundant life (John 10:10). Part of that life, is taking the time to rest—but not at our own expense.

In Exodus 31, one of the things the Lord said to Moses was a reminder that He made heaven and earth in six days, “and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed” (v. 17). God was refreshed by taking a day off.

Related Devotion: His Heart from the Start

Since we were made in His image, it follows suit that we would be as well. But too often, as women, we are more familiar with Proverbs 31 than Psalm 127. In Proverbs 31, the king’s mother told her son the perfect woman gets up early and works into the late hours of the night. She’s never idle, but does all the things. In Psalm 127, King Solomon wrote that it’s pointless to work yourself to the bone, because God grants sleep to those He loves.

Have you heard a sermon on that passage lately?

I’m not saying working hard is bad. Paul wrote that we should do everything like God was the one who asked us to do it (1 Corinthians 10:31). Colossians 3:23 says that while God wants us to work with all our hearts, our hearts shouldn’t be on the task, but on Christ. Our work shouldn’t be our idol (Matthew 6:33)—but neither should our rest.

God gave us free will. He created us in His image, but allows us to make our own choices. He knows we function best when we take the time to rest—and He wants that for us—but He won’t strike us down if we end up working on our day off.

Jesus has a heart that restores us. Read more in this devotional series about the heart of Jesus by @_HeatherHart Share on X

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