Day 14 - Tuesday, March 14
The Sacrifice of Rest
Scripture: Psalm 127:2, Hebrews 4:1, Matthew 11:28-30
It is vain for you to rise up early, and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for He gives to His beloved even in his sleep. Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Poetry:
"St. Martha"
by Anna Kamienska
Scolded like an impolite child
stopped in mid gesture
with a wooden spoon in one hand
while a bowl falls
from the other
hidden in the dimness of the pantry
under a candelabra of spiderwebs
she is ashamed in the glow of the kitchen fire
she covers her dress with a blue apron
a small dark smudge over her breast
she shades her brow with a starched cloth
in the darkness the barrels are praying
patient with the maturing of malt
the oils’ truth settles in clay jugs
a tear trembles on a flaxen eyelash
greatly saddened shadows
brightened only by a glimpse of green gaze
humble and apologetic
but disobedient she still continues to serve
heart in a rush of love
even when her wise sister a poplar
calmly takes out of her hands a warm
loaf of bread covered with snow

GLAD SUBMISSION
An imaginative narrative:

Martha was banging around in the kitchen. The entire household would soon be roused. Timnah stood in the doorway, looking for an unobtrusive point of entrance. Martha turned and saw her.
“Oh Mother, the water is hot. Have your tea.”
“May I help you? You seem agitated.”
“I couldn’t sleep—I was thinking about the preparation needed for this morning.”
“Wasn’t our work yesterday sufficient?”
Martha exhaled loudly. “Go drink your tea mother.”
As Timnah retreated, Martha called after her. “Tell Mary to get up!”
Mary’s door was ajar. Timnah peered into the room and saw her daughter kneeling in prayer. She smiled and moved on down the corridor.

The morning air was warming before the sun. Timnah stood beneath the olive tree at the gate, and offered up thanksgiving and petitions—there was much for all to receive that day. She prayed for the peace of her daughters, whose outlooks frequently fell to odds.
The sound of footsteps grew in the lane.
“Timnah! So, we are here. And famished!”
Timnah clapped her hands. “There is food for an army!”
The household appeared at the sound of Peter’s riotous laughter. The rest of the travelers entered the courtyard, voices raised in greetings and introductions.
“Andrew!” Timnah placed her hand on his arm, “How is your mother?”
“She is well. She sends her greetings.”
Timnah hung back, watching the happy crowd. Soon Martha commanded them into the house. As Timnah moved to follow, Jesus turned back to her. He smiled and took her hands in His, gently stroking her swollen joints. “I am happy to see you.”
“The years have caught up to me LORD.”
“They have been faithful years.”
Tears ran down her face. She wiped them with her apron.

“Mother?” Mary stepped into the courtyard. “Are you alright?”
Jesus withdrew, greeting Mary as He passed into the house.
“I can hardly contain myself Mother—Jesus, here in our home! ...You two were speaking as if you knew one another.” Mary looked questioningly at Timnah.
“Of course.”
Mary’s brow was tightly knit, until she perceived her mother’s meaning. “Oh! Oh, yes!”
“Let’s go help your sister.”
Mary could not restrain her joy, and laughed in delight as she entered the house after her mother.

Jesus sought many times to explain the sacrifice of rest. It is modeled after His communion with the Father. He made an incredulous statement to his disciples about it, a statement which was the foundation for all that He later taught them. It was all about abiding, and being connected to Him like a branch to a vine. He said, He could do absolutely nothing unless it was something He first saw His Father doing! (John 5:19)

Is this our reality? Do we consider ourselves able to do anything apart from Him? For every action, every word we speak, for every thought—are there ten or a hundred words we have heard first from the Father, through the Spirit? There is a kind of formula by which we may enter His rest: if anxiety is present in us, we acknowledge it, and bringing it to the Father in prayer, wrestle with it until it is subjugated to thanksgiving. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Are you abiding? Are you yoked? Are you leaning in to listen? In the imaginative narrative above, Timnah appears to have long entered His rest. Mary is learning. And Martha has fallen short of this sacrifice. Jesus sweat drops of blood in His endeavor to remain in His Father’s rest.

For us this offering may take a wide variety of forms, indeed any form which results in glad submission to the Father. There is always a sacrifice to be made. If one has entered His rest, the character of Christ is manifested. Every Mary and Martha can become a Timnah.

PRAYER
Give me, Abba Father, the peace of Christ which is true rest. Take my burdens and replace them with His light yoke. Take from me all envy of anyone else; all resentment for anything which has been withheld from me; all bitterness against anyone who has hurt or wronged me; all anger against the apparent injustices of life; all foolish worry about the future and all futile regret about the past. Help me to be at peace with myself, at peace with my fellow human beings, and at rest in you. Thank you Lord that you are the God of abiding rest!
Amen.

Barbara Mancini
Author and Biola Parent