Rest Yourself Under The Tree Today!

Heavenly Father,

Thou has led me singing to the cross

where I fling down all my burdens

and see them vanish,

where my mountains of guilt are levelled

to a plain,

where my sins disappear, though they are

the greatest that exist,

and are more in number than the grains

of fine sand;

For there is power in the blood of Calvary

to destroy sins more than can be counted

even by one from the choir of heaven.

Thou has given me a hill-side spring

that washes clear and white,

and I go as a sinner to its waters,

bathing without hinderance

in its crystal streams.

At the cross there is free forgiveness

for poor and meek ones,

and ample blessings that last for ever;

The blood of the Lamb is like a great river

of infinite grace

with never any diminishing of its fullness

as thirsty ones without number drink of it.

O Lord, for ever will thy free forgiveness live

that was gained on the mount of blood;

In the midst of a world of pain

it is a subject for praise in every place,

a song on earth, an anthem in heaven,

its love and virtue knowing no end.

I have a longing for the world above

where multitudes sing the great song,

for my soul was never created to love

the dust of earth.

Though here my spiritual state is frail and poor,

I shall go on singing Calvary's anthem.

May I always know

that a clean heart full of goodness

is more beautiful than the lily,

that only a clean heart can sing by night

and by day,

that such a heart is mine when I abide

at Calvary.

CALVARY'S ANTHEM  The Valley of Vision; Puritan Prayers and Devotions

In Genesis 18 we find the LORD appearing to Abraham and immediately 1 turns into 3 visitors standing in front of him.

Abraham responds by first looking and beholding and then running to meet the visitors and show honor and adoration to them.

Let us take a minute to glean from this scene,  important and practical applications for our lives.

God makes himself known to us in a variety of ways throughout our days.  Notice that during the time of day when Abraham was more than likely the most drained and worn out is the very moment that the LORD appeared to him and wanted to meet with him.

Adam once had the distinct advantage of leisurely meeting with God in the cool of the day but now Abraham, under the curse of Adam, must work the land in order to provide for his family.

Despite the difficulties that the curse poses on our relationship with the LORD, we find that He comes to meet with us daily  so that we can behold His glory, run to serve Him and find rest and refreshment there.

Abraham responds quickly and without delay to honor and serve his  guests.

Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet,

 and rest yourselves under the tree, while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on...

I can't help but see the Cross of Christ tucked neatly into the framework of this scene, as it seems to be a type of foreshadowing of the last supper and the provision that Jesus' crucifixion on the cross provided for His people.

Just as Jesus washed his disciples feet, Abraham wants to wash the LORD's feet.

Did you notice what follows the washing?  The resting!

When we are washed by the blood of Jesus and His word, we can truly find rest in the provision of the cross.

... and rest yourselves under the tree...

The Cross of Christ is the only place that we can find rest.  When we run to the LORD without delay, beholding the beauty of His sacrifice, and feeding on the faithfulness of His life that was offered as a sacrifice for our sins, we can find rest for our weary souls in the heat of our days.

And in that rest can you see what  is provided?  Sustenance!

... rest...while I bring you a morsel of bread...

Not only can we rest but we can also find refreshment from the Bread of Life Himself!

Jesus replied, 

" I am the bread of life.  

Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again.  

Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."

Because of the Cross of Christ our souls are satiated enabling us to  rest and find refreshment for our weary souls!

When we daily feed on the faithfulness of God's provision for our sin sick lives, we are satisfied and refreshed and we can go on from that point with a renewed strength that sustains us.  A strength that is supernaturally provided as we are washed by His word and as we partake in the Bread of presence.

I would encourage you today to rest yourselves under the tree, on the mercy seat, Jesus Christ himself, when you are the most drained and weary.  Don't run to and fro serving other things that will distract you from seeing Him show up at the door of your heart to bring you rest and refreshment.

Exodus 25:22

And you shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark, 

and in the ark you shall put the testimony that I shall give you.  

There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are  on the ark of the testimony, 

I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.