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Time for a Vacation!

Summer has arrived! The high temperatures have been letting us not forget that fact. The good news is that with summer, for many, comes the time for vacation! I am often surprised to hear people tell me that they haven’t taken a family vacation in years. God wants you to know that if you don’t take a break, you won’t get one.

He wants you to survive the long haul, not just the short sprint. The first enemy we need to send home is guilt. That’s what makes us all workaholics. We feel guilty resting because there’s just so much to be done. But Jesus felt differently. Listen: “And He said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while; for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. And they departed into a desert place by ship, privately.” (Mark 6:31-32)

In other words he was telling his disciples to “take a break.” Did that verse resonate with your life? No time to eat? Too many people coming and going? No time to take care of yourself? I can remember being told when I was training for the ministry that it was better to burn out than to rust out. Now I know that was poor advice. How much better for one to take care of himself and have a long productive life than to burn out early in life as a workaholic.

Jesus said, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:30) The reason He could say that was because the crowd did not set His agenda – His Father did. David said, “He maketh me to lie down…” (Psalm 23:2) Wouldn’t you rather go to the park by your own choice, than to end up in the hospital by force? No, God won’t send you there, but your own lack of wisdom might.

Today Jesus is saying to you, “Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:31) If you haven’t rested or vacationed for some time, why don’t you heed Him? Take a break. May you have a safe summer and a blessed and joyous vacation.