“Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest”... Matthew 11:28

Labor Day, a federal holiday in the United States, is celebrated on the first Monday, in September to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the United States. It is the Monday following the long weekend known as Labor Day Weekend.

Beginning in the late 19th century, as the trade union and labor movements grew, trade unionists proposed that a day be set aside to celebrate labor. "Labor Day" was promoted by the Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor, which organized the first parade in New York City. In 1887, Oregon was the first state of the United States to make it an official public holiday. By the time it became an official federal holiday in 1894, thirty states in the United States officially celebrated Labor Day.

Matthew 11:28 says, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest”. Jesus is our Rest. In Him and because of Him, we cease from our labors. Ephesians 2:8-9, teaches us that our salvation is not of works. We rest in Him and on what He did on the cross as the payment for our sins. I cherish Christ as a prophet, teacher, and healer. I am so thankful that He is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. He is the Lily of our valley, the Fourth Man in our fire and our Living Word — but most of all… He is our Savior. Today, on this Labor Day and everyday… we rest in that unchanging truth.

Not only do we rest in Jesus as our Savior, we rest on His promises. One of those promises is found in Romans 8:28, “For we KNOW all things work together for good to them who love God and are called according purpose”. Not knowing how something is going to turn out, can result in worry, fear, and discouragement. But we have a promise from God that ALL things work together for OUR GOOD. More than once, I have said to God: “I just don’t see it…I don’t see how anything good can come out of this.” If “a man” had made that statement in Romans 8:28, we would have good reason to worry and be afraid. But it wasn’t a man…it was God Himself. Paul said in Philippians 4:6, “Be careful (anxious/worried) for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication let your requests (needs) known unto God”. Regardless of what we see, hear, or feel… we can REST on the promises of God.

Enjoy Your Labor Day!