August 5, 1897

“Come Ye Yourselves Apart, ... and Rest Awhile”

EGW

“And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest awhile; for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.” The disciples had just returned from their first missionary tour. They came to Jesus and told him all things. Their intimate relationship with him encouraged them to lay before him all their favorable and unfavorable experiences, their joy at seeing results from their labors, and their sorrow at their failures, their faults, and their weaknesses. They had committed errors in their first work as evangelists, and as they frankly told Christ of their experiences, he saw that they needed much instruction. He saw too that they had become weary in their labors, and that they needed to rest.ST August 5, 1897, par. 1

But where they then were they could not obtain the needed privacy; “for there were many coming and going, and they had not leisure so much as to eat.” The people were thronging after Christ, anxious to be healed, and eager to listen to his words. Many felt drawn to him; for he seemed to them to be the fountain of all blessings. Mercy and truth and the very essence of love were expressed in his words. He was indeed the very fountain of all good, able to meet all the necessities of a fallen world and of a tried church. No one appealed to him in vain. All that poor, suffering, helpless sinners need is found in him. He is not only mighty, that does not fully express it, but almighty to save, ready to take the sinner's load of guilt, and impute to him his righteousness.ST August 5, 1897, par. 2

The physical restoration of every soul that came to Christ to be healed is an assurance that he is fully able to take away sin, and to heal the diseased soul. He is “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” Many of those who then thronged about Christ to receive the precious boon of health, accepted him as their Saviour. Many others, afraid then to confess him, because of the Pharisees, were converted at the descent of the Holy Spirit, and before the angry priests and rulers acknowledged him as the Son of God.ST August 5, 1897, par. 3

But now Christ longed for retirement, that he might be with his disciples; for he had much to say to them. In their work they had passed through the test and trial of conflict, and had encountered opposition of all kinds. John the Baptist had just been beheaded, and his disciples, full of grief at his death, had taken up his body, and laid it in a tomb, and had then come and told Christ.ST August 5, 1897, par. 4

Hitherto the disciples had consulted Christ in everything, but for some time they had been alone, and at times they had been much troubled to know what to do. They had found much encouragement in their work; for Christ did not send them away without his Spirit, and by faith in him they worked many miracles: but they needed now to feed on the Bread of Life. They needed to go to a place of retirement, where they could hold communion with Jesus, and receive instruction for future work.ST August 5, 1897, par. 5

Duty to Rest

“And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest awhile.” Christ is full of tenderness and compassion for all in his service. He would show his disciples that God does not require sacrifice but mercy. They have been putting their whole souls into labor for the people, and this was exhausting their physical and mental strength. It was their duty to rest. Christ called them to rest that they might spend a few hours with him. How thoughtful and tender was his love and care for them!ST August 5, 1897, par. 6

“And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.” With his disciples Jesus crossed the water, and chose a retired place away from the cities, away from the thoroughfares of travel, at a little distance from the lake, where they would be in seclusion, and away from the bustle and agitation of the city. The scenes of nature were in themselves a rest, a change grateful to the senses. Here they could listen to the words of Christ without hearing the angry interruptions, the retorts and accusations of the scribes and Pharisees. Here they could enjoy a short season of rest and precious fellowship in the society of their Lord.ST August 5, 1897, par. 7

The rest which Christ and his disciples took was not self-indulgent rest. The time that they spent in retirement was not devoted to pleasure or frivolous amusement. They talked together regarding the work of God, and the possibility of bringing greater efficiency into the work. The disciples had been with Christ, and could understand him; to them he need not talk in parables. He corrected their errors, and made plain to them the right way of approaching unbelievers. He opened more fully to them the precious treasures of divine truth. Important truths from the inexhaustible storehouse were presented to them. They were vitalized by divine power, and inspired with hope and courage.ST August 5, 1897, par. 8

Christ's words of compassion are spoken to his workers today just as surely as they were spoken to his disciples. “Come ye yourselves apart, ... and rest awhile,” he says to those that are weary. He does not urge us to work to the utmost of our strength. We are to remember that there is important work to be done on the morrow, and for that reason we are to take care of our physical powers. There is much work to be done, day after day; but we must not strive to load ourselves with more burdens than we can carry.ST August 5, 1897, par. 9

Altho we are required to be self-denying, to make self-sacrificing efforts, yet God has fixed a limit. His workers are to show no presumption. God does not require his servants to ruin their health by continual taxation. This is not the fast that will glorify God. The mind can not act healthfully if the worker weakens his physical machinery by overexertion. God would have all study the laws of health, and then use reason when working for him, that the life which has been given may be preserved.ST August 5, 1897, par. 10

The religion of Jesus Christ requires every human being to obey the laws of the physical organism. We may be fitted for the labors of tomorrow by the judicious exercise and care of our powers today. The servants of Jesus Christ are not to treat their health indifferently. The Lord remembers that we are but dust, and he does not expect more of us than we can do.ST August 5, 1897, par. 11

Let no one labor to the point of exhaustion, thereby disqualifying himself for other duties. Do not try to crowd two days’ work into one. All should use their strength wisely, and at the end those who work carefully and wisely will be found to have accomplished as much as those who so expend their physical and mental strength that they have no deposit from which to draw in a time of need.ST August 5, 1897, par. 12

God's work is world-wide; it calls for every jot and tittle of the ability and power that we have; but there is danger that God's workers will abuse their powers as they see that the field is ripe for the harvest. But God does not require this. After they have done their best, they may say, “The harvest truly is great, and the laborers are few; but God knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.”ST August 5, 1897, par. 13

Christ's workers should take time to rest. I speak not this to those that are constitutionally tired, those who think they are carrying heavier burdens than any one else. Those who do not labor have no need of rest. Those who can not show that they have been using their spiritual and physical powers for God, working earnestly and thoroughly for him, with mind, and soul, and strength, are not in need of the sympathy that Christ gave to his disciples. It was to those who were worn down in his service, not those who were always sparing themselves, who did not earnest, self-sacrificing work, that Christ addressed his tender, compassionate words. And today it is to the self-forgetful, those who work to the very extent of their ability, who are distressed because they can not do all they would do, and who in their zeal go beyond their strength, that Christ addresses the words, “Come ye yourselves apart, ... and rest awhile.”ST August 5, 1897, par. 14

The disciples sought Jesus, and told him “all things,” and he comforted and encouraged them. If today we would take time to go to Jesus with our troubles, we should be stronger. We should not be disappointed; for he would be at our right hand, and we should not be moved. We need more simplicity, more trust and confidence in our Saviour. “Ask, and it shall be given you,” he has promised. “Come unto me,” he says, “all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”ST August 5, 1897, par. 15

Mrs. E. G. White