Rest

            The other night I was watching one of the World Series baseball games. Much was made before the game as to whether the Red Sox pitcher – Clay Buchholz – would actually be able to pitch. Buchholz, who already was pushed back to Sunday (to pitch) because of concerns about stiffness in his problematic right shoulder, said Saturday he’s “not 100 percent” and sounded as if he would be grateful to complete five innings. Commentators were wondering why the Red Sox manager should even let him play.

            Many great pitchers never make it to a major league game in their lives. Their arms just can’t do it. Many who do make it don’t have long careers for the same reason: their arm is injured or just gives out, losing its strength. The repetitive motion and the physical stress are so great that they can do serious damage over time. Pitchers make a regular practice of icing their arms after every outing. I remember seeing Sandy Koufax with his arm immersed in a large container of water which was full of ice. His elbow was then wrapped in ice for hours. Things like this are routinely done for big league pitchers. It’s amazing that some of them last as long as they do.

            On Saturday my left arm began to get weak after a relatively short while when I was helping Tony Gott move to a new home. It felt very strange because that usually doesn’t happen to me. Several people were there helping, and one of the last things we moved was the heaviest thing of the day. I was struggling more than I wanted to in that left arm. It just “went out” on me. So others had to do more to make up the difference.

            When a muscle is stressed and overused it can only maintain strength for so long. More than anything else it needs rest. Isn’t it the same with the Body of Christ? There are times when certain members have worked so hard for so long that they become weary and weak. When that happens, they need rest. Without it they will get burned out or possibly even broken. This is why every member of the Body is needed. Overuse is dangerous. Let us not be idle while our brothers and sisters work so hard that their strength fails. Let us not be observers only when there is work to be done. Rather, let each of us do his part in those things Christ wants to do in our church and community. An arm works great, but it can’t do it all alone.

            And let us remember to be careful to rest – physically, mentally, and spiritually – in our service to the Lord. It will last longer and be more effective. Certainly our God gives strength to the weak, and He is able to do in us many things which we cannot do on our own. Yet His Word also calls us to rest and it calls for each member to do his part

1 Corinthians 12:12,27 – “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ… Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is part of it.”

Ephesians 4:12 – “… to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…”

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for strength. And thank you for rest. Give me wisdom to know when I need to rest. And give me more strength for everything I need to do to serve you faithfully. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!

Scott