Make Labor Day A Holy Day

Reading from the Book of 1 Kings 19:12-13, Mark 6:31, John 3:7-8

^{Mark 19:12} And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. ¹³ And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

Elijah needed to hear from God, and thankfully he had a listening ear toward God even tho his circumstances had frieghtened him. He had experienced tremendous victory but afterward he ran for his life, hid in a cave, and prayed to God to die. Knowing Elijah's need, God taught Elijah a wonderful lesson about what His voice sounds like. As Elijah waited on God, He demostrated His power through wind, earthquake, and fire. But God was not in those things. Instead He spoke to Elijah in a "still, small voice" and gave instruction for Elijah's next mission.

The "still, small voice" by which the Lord spoke to Elijah, tells us that the Lord encourages us to be sensitive enough to feel the gentle breeze by which God makes His presence known.

^{Mark 6:31} 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.

On one occasion, Jesus' disciples were so busy that "they had no leisure even to eat."  He said, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." We all need to take the time to listen for that still, small voice and feel that gentle breeze.

^{John 3:7} Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. ⁸ The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Jesus explained that some people do not hear the voice of God because they do not believe Him and do not have His Word living in their hearts. He taught us that we must be born again in order to hear God's voice. When we are born again, we are made alive in our spirits to be sensitive to the voice of God. We hear His whisper even tho we cannot tell where it comes from. Our ears become "tuned in" to hear our Father's voice. He whispers to convict, correct, and direct us by a still, small voice deep within our hearts.

In light of the stress most of us feel, how do we make today's holiday a holy day? We need to accept Jesus' invitation. Set aside some time today for your soul. Get alone with your Father. Read his word. Offer him your praise and thanksgiving and ask His Spirit to speak to your spirit. And know that he wants intimacy with you, for he made you for himself. Our hearts are restless until they rest in him.

I encourage you to make your Labor Day a Holy Day.