Rest

 On the 16th in the One Year Bible I was reading Matthew 11:29 where I noticed the phrase and you will find rest for your souls.  I cross referenced it with Jeremiah 6:16.  Look at this!  Stand by the way and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and you will find rest for your souls. 'But they said we will not walk in it.' Several words came to my attention.  First, the Way. Then, the Good Way, also ancient paths and of course, and you will find rest for your souls.

My logic wants to run the order backwards.  Rest for my weary soul is the effect.  The cause is to stand by the way, ask for the ancient paths where the good way is and finally to walk in it.  Jesus says in John 14:6 I am The Way, the Truth and The Life...Hmm.  Do I just need to "stand by Him'?  He also tells a ruler why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. (Luke 18:19) We know that He and the Father are One (John 17:11); therefore, when I read this I really think there's a formula of a type to find rest for our souls.  Stand by Him. Ask for the ancient paths, what might that have been that Jeremiah was pleading to God's people? It is obviously where the good way is and we are to walk in it.  I don't want to be like the receivers of Jeremiah's word who said they will not walk in it. 

 I want to find that path and make sure I am walking in it, side by side with Jesus in the good way, along the ancient path of faith and obedience, humility and grace. I want to be yoked with Jesus who says come to me all you who are heavy laden, take my yoke upon you for my burden is light and my yoke is easy. I think I can only find it if I am standing by him all of the time.  I can't drift off onto my own path no matter how good I think it might be or feel.  I think it also feeds into the whole idea of abiding with him.  But that's a whole different blog topic!  Be blessed, find rest for your soul!