The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1902-07-26
VI VACATION REST.
c~sasonable Sermon by the High
wav and Byway" Preacher.
uox Jesus Provided n Needful Out
ing for His Disciples, and Help
full Lessons Drawn
TherefrOm
Copyright, 1902, by A. N. Kellogg News
paper Coz
Chicago, 1902.

fCopyright, 1902, by A. N. Kellogg News
paper Coz
Chicago, 1902.
Text: And He said unto them: Come We
yourselves apart into a desert place, and
rest awhile.-Mark 6:3l.
Vacation Rest.-Scripture records
at least one instance where our Lord
called His disciples aside from the
busy activity of the world for a pc
riod of rest. The words of our text
reveal to us the tender solicitude
with which Christ regarded the phys
zeal as well as spiritual needs of His
followers. Doubtless there were
other occasions during the three
years of the active ministry of Christ
when He and His disciples withdrew
themselves for the recreation of the
weary and exhausted bodies, as well
as the renewing of their spiritual
strength. Certainly the circum-
stances which gave rise to the words
of our text afford us ample warrant
in making them the basis of a vaca-
tion-time sermon As we study the
words, and the incidents surround
ing them, and dig beneath the sur
face for light as to the Divine mind
regarding summertime rest and re-
creation, we shall spend a helpful
and blessed half-hour together.
The mistake is very often made in
supposing that God is a hard task
master, and that He views with dis
approval vacation time and vacation
rest. With this thought consciously
or unconsciously burdening the heart,
many a lear and weary child of God
steals off, half guilty, to his vacation
rest, almost feeling that he has left
his Lord behind to follow him with
a sad and disappointed look. And in
so doing half the joy and blessing of
the vacation is lost. All, if we would
draw close to the S%aviour's side when
the burdens of life press hard and
the summers heat saps u vitality,
we would hear Him say again, as He
did of yore: Come we yourselves
apart into a desert place, and rest
awhile" And instead of leaving Him
behind, we would find the Lord pres
ent at our side, making glad every
moment and opening up new aven(l les
of refreshing service for Him. Yes,
He who draws the shades of night
at the close of the busy day, and outs
the world to rest; He who rested
Himself on the Sabbath day ana bids
the world to rest with Him, is not
unmindful of the further needs of
His children. The call, Come unto
Me, all We that labor and are heavy
laden, and / will give you rest"
sounds with alluring tenderness from
the shaded nook and ripping water
side sometimes, and as we draw our
selves apart for awhile we find the
Lord there awaiting us to soothe our
weary bodies and aching brains back
to normal vigor again.
If the declaration, 1.-THE devil neve
takes a vacation is not of helTs
own coinage, it is often used by the
devil and his minions to put the
mark of disapproval upon the vaca'
ton excursion of one whom the Lore
is calling apart for a aso of need
FIJI rest. 1t may be true that the
prince of this world never does take
a vacation. If so, it is only another
instance of his hellish exces which
Is self-destructive. He cannot ane
will not hear God speak. but you
dear friend, have that privilege.
If YOU will read the entire sixth
chapter of Marks Gospel, from
which our text is taken, you will fine
that the disciples have been journey
ing in bands of two, preaching tn
Gospel of repentance, casting GU
devils and healing the sick. They re
turn and relate their experiences t.
Jesus, while the people of Ca%pernaun
eagerly crowd around in their unres
and need. Surely here is opportun
ity of further and greater work RICH
at hand. All. if many a struggling
disciple of Christ to-day had bee
there, how he would have groane
and exhausted his energies unde
that seeming urgent call to duty
But Jesus knew that rest was in
perative, and turning from tn
crowds for a season He leads Ill
disciples out into the uninhabited bu
fragrant fields and sloping hillside
TO the northeast Of the Lake of Ga
lice. How vain it would have bee
TOT any OF tllc uisSipiCS w taii ~
hind, when Jesus had planned a r.
freshing lake trip and a run in tn
meadows. And, behold, while fres
lake breezes kiss the color back int
their faces and the fragrance OF tn
nodding flowers bring new message
of Gods love and care to their souls
while the tuneful birds sing Nature
hymn of praise and restful harmon.
and they feel their tagging spirit
reviving; behold, new channels {
service open up and their brief outin
is turned into a vast picnic, at whic
the hungry multitudes partake {
the Lords bounty, and the disciple
become the renewed channe
through which the Divine power ca
be poured. Here is vacation re
worthy the name. Vacation re
does not mean l~istless dleness
reckless abandon. Vacation re
which would supply the needs OF IL
body at the sacrifice of the soul is