“And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while.” Mark 6:31
When I was in Bible College, one of our teachers used to quote the following: “Time out to sharpen the sickle is never spent in vain.” I think of this quite often.
Back in the days when farmers had to harvest their crops by hand, I am sure they took time every morning to sharpen the sickle or scythe before they started to work. That time spent meant that their work would be so much easier. To bring it closer to our time, have you ever tried to peel potatoes with a dull knife? How much easier it is when we take time to sharpen it.
Jesus knew His disciples were getting tired, and so He took them away from the crowds to give them a chance to rest. He knew they would not be at their best if they didn’t take care of themselves. God made us with the need to sleep. How often do we get so busy, that we overwork our bodies and don’t get our proper rest? The student who only gets a few hours of sleep each night, will not do his best in class. The worker who stays out late at night will not perform well on his job. The driver, who is sleep deprived is a danger on the highway to himself and everyone else. And, even those of us who are at home all day, need our rest to function properly.
The same principle can apply in our spiritual lives. We need to take time every day to pray and read the Word of God – sharpen the sickle. The Lord knows exactly what the day will bring, and in those times of fellowship with Him, He provides the strength and the guidance for whatever the day holds.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we are fearfully and wonderfully made, and you know the rest we need to be at our best, both physically and spiritually.
Devotion by Anne Johnston
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