12 Months to a Fit (Church) Body: 3

Rest. In the first month we recognized the need for a fit church body, and month 2 we discussed gathering motivation.  Now I’m telling you step three is rest! But we haven’t even done anything! Aren’t we supposed to rest AFTER we work out?!  Well, yes, then, too.
See, we live in a go-go-go culture, and even in our down time we don’t rest and rejuvenate (we watch TV and scroll our screens - which does not rest us!).  Jesus said in Matthew 11: 28-29, “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden, I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me . . . and you will find rest for your souls.”
How many of you personally recognized the need to get physically fit, got motivated, and fit it in your busy schedule like another thing you need to do?  It probably burned you out. The same thing can happen in a church body. We recognize the need to learn about each other, spend time and experiences together, and love each other.  We are motivated to. But in the long run it’s not going to be how quick we get a bunch of programs started. It’s going to be how well we implemented rest into the pattern of our community pulse.  
To do this, as a church, we must come to Jesus and TAKE his yoke - that means we can only go where HE goes and do what HE does, and the restful idea is that HE is the strong one and has offered to bear the burden.  As we are weak and in our rest, we LEARN from him what to do, when to do it, how to do it, and why! From our rest we are strengthened, and instead of being sore all the time and tuckered from church workout, we come strong and energetic.
So with Jesus we find rest as we link up with him, and that’s when the slow workout training begins.  It’s beautiful. Being involved in church does involve work, but imagine His strategy: instead of working TO rest, we are working FROM rest.  No burnout, no cramps. What a great instructor!
As we continue our year of getting fit, take this month to seek rest with us.  I am excited to see where Jesus guides you from it! See you at the watering hole.