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[cimi]

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 30


AN INVITATION TO REST

READ:
Matthew 11:28
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I will give you rest.
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At a friend's bedside in a hospital emergency ward, I was moved by the sounds of suffering I heard from other patients in pain. As I prayed for my friend and for the ailing patients, I realized anew how fleeting our life on earth is. Then I recalled can old country song by Jim Reeves that talks about how the world is not home for us__we're "just a-passin through."

Our world is full of wariness, pain, hunger, debt, poverty, disease, and death. Because we must pass through such a world, Jesus' invitation is welcome and timely: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (MATT. 11:28. We need this rest.

There is hardly a funeral ceremony I've attended where John's vision of a "new heaven and a new earth" (Re. 21:1-5) is not quoted, and it certainly holds relevance for funerals.

But I believe the passage is more for the living than the dead. The time to heed Jesus' invitation to come rest in Him is while we are still living. Only then can we be entitled to the promises in Revelation. God will dwell among us (v.3). He will wipe away our tears (v.4). There will be "no more death or mourning or crying or pain" (v.4).

Accept Jesus' invitation and enter His rest! __Lawrence Darmani

**Father in heaven, this life can be wonderful, but it can also be so hard.
Thank You for Your Spirit's presence with us now.
And thank You too for the reality of eternal life with You.
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When you're weary in life's struggles, find your rest in the Lord.

*************************Today's Bible reading __ Revelation 21:1-5**************************
1 Then I saw "a new heaven and a new earth," for the
first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and
there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the
new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from god
prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 and
I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's
dwelling place is now among the people, and will dwell
with them and be their God. 4 'He will wipe every tear from
their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying
or pain, for the old older of things had passed away."

5 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making
everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these
words are trustworthy and true."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Toda's passage gives us a glimpse of heaven,
describing it as a physical place (vv.1-2). Jesus said He was going to
prepare a place for us (JHON 14:2-3). While it is a great comfort
that heaven is a perfect place with "no more death or mourning
or crying or pain" (v.4), the most important thing is that it is the
dwelling place of God (v.3). In this final vision of the beginning of
eternity (21:1-22:9), John hears Christ declaring, "it is done" (21:6). The
New Living Translation renders it, "it is finished!" echoing Christ's
victorious cry from the cross (JOHN 19:30). Sin's curse will one day be
completely removed and reversed (GEN 3:16-19). ___Sim Kay Tee