Rest, Renewal, & the Way of Jesus

Missio Madison Rest & Renewal Retreat

By Justin Markofski

I recently participated in a day long “Rest & Renewal Retreat” co-sponsored by Missio Madison & Collaboration Project and hosted at Holy Wisdom Monastery – it was great. As a parent of four and leader in multiple areas and just being human, I understand life has many demands. I also understand taking time set apart for retreat is not only beneficial but perhaps even essential.

Jesus tells the truth about reality. Jesus was born into a culture and people who had a rich heritage in the rhythms of rest (practices built into their way of life including weekly Sabbath, Sabbath year’s, multiple weeks annually celebrating “the Lord’s feasts”, etc.) There is also the common grace of sleep – see Matt Walker TED Talk: Sleep is your Superpower – to further illustrate we are designed for rest & renewal.

Jesus participated in the above practices while growing up. A healthy balance of work and rest. As far as we see he didn’t have a workaholic complex at any point in his life (even though he is uniquely the actual Savior of the world!). While he did spend some extraordinary sessions meeting human needs of crowds who came to him, he also regularly withdrew for solitude and prayer and also instructed his apprentices/disciples to do so. Jesus taught these same followers the key to joy and lasting fruitfulness comes from entering a place of friendship with him and remaining vitally connected to Him. Not non-stop busyness. In fact, he said apart from him we can’t do anything (that will remain anyway).

In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus tells the following simple story regarding how we respond to him and his teachings “…everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise person who built their house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish person who built their house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Read that again and pay attention. If what Jesus says here is true, we do well to listen (have you noticed seventy-eight times in the four gospels Jesus says, ‘I tell you the truth’).

How’s this for a welcomed and counter-cultural invitation from Jesus:

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)

Let’s rest & be renewed!

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