Advent Rest - Revisited Again!

This is another repeat Advent message, written in 2017 (and repeated last year too). I will leave it just the way it was written...it is still very much applicable today. I still need to learn about "rest"...  I hope you will enjoy this message and be blessed by it.

Original Message:

In preparation for the beginning of the Advent season we read in our devotions the following passage from Ezekiel 34:11-16:

Ezekiel 34:11-16(NKJV)

God, the True Shepherd

11 ‘For thus says the Lord God: “Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. 

12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day. 

13 And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country. 

14 I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 

15 I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,” says the Lord God. 

16 “I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment.”

After reading this I couldn't help but think about this following passage in Isaiah 40:11, followed by Christ speaking to us in Matthew 11:28-29.  I have inserted a video excerpt from Handel's Messiah with this beautiful message.  

Isaiah 40:11(NKJV)

11 

He will feed His flock like a shepherd;

He will gather the lambs with His arm,

And carry them in His bosom,

And gently lead those who are with young.

Matthew 11:28-29 (NKJV)

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

29 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.

Listening to this helps me to calm my spirit and prepare my heart for the Advent of our Lord...yes, as a babe in the manger at Christmas...but also as we look forward to His soon return to redeem His beloved sheep..., for "WE are His people, and the sheep of His pasture"...

Psalm 100 (NKJV)

A Song of Praise for the Lord’s Faithfulness to His People

1 Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!

2 

Serve the Lord with gladness;

Come before His presence with singing.

3 

Know that the Lord, He is God;

It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;

We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

4 

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,

And into His courts with praise.

Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.5 

For the Lord is good;

His mercy is everlasting,

And His truth endures to all generations.

As we approach this Christmas season, let us pause to reflect on the true mission of that babe in the manger...it was not to give us a reason to go out and buy expensive gifts and shop til we drop and do all kinds of crazy things in the name of Christmas...but to celebrate the One who came to seek His sheep as the True Shepherd, Who came to "seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick;", and to "feed His flock like a shepherd;

He will gather the lambs with His arm,

And carry them in His bosom,

And gently lead those who are with young." 

and to "give you rest."

As we approach the end of this year it is fitting that I should be reminded of the One Who came to give me REST...Yes, rest for my body, my mind, and my soul...

If you recall, my "One Word" for 2017 was "REST"... and I am not too sure that I followed that admonition too well all year long...but I have learned that when I am weary Jesus is always there to give me rest...I just need to allow Him into my busy-ness...and take His yoke upon me, and learn from Him.

My prayer for you and for myself as we enter this busiest of all seasons of the year, is that we will indeed let Jesus give us "REST" in the midst of our celebrations and joyous activities with loved ones and friends. Take time out to spend time alone with Him, reading His Word, meditating upon Him, and enjoying all the beauty and wonders of the season around us.

Have a blessed, peaceful, restful Advent Season!