Waverly Church of Christ

We as a nation will celebrate a federal holiday known as Labor Day. Labor Day, also known as a “workingmen’s holiday” was signed in to law by President Grover Cleveland on June 28, 1894. It is celebrated on the first Monday in September every year as a time to recognize the works and contributions of laborers throughout our country. Many of us will enjoy a day rest tomorrow, but even as you do, I want to encourage you to think about the rest to which God originally called man, the rest He established for the Israelites and the ultimate rest to which He calls each of us. In our reading today, we find Jesus and His disciples so busy with people “coming and going” that, as Mark tells us, “they did not even have time to eat” (Mark 6:31b). For this reason, He invited them to “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while” (Mark 6:31a). There are times when we each need rest, but we fill the time with things which need doing around the house or trying to get ahead on office work. When we do this, we do not find the rest for our souls which Jesus intends. I want to encourage you to spend time with God. Let Him fill you so that you have the inner strength to continue on.