John Stanko

"Then, because so many people were coming
and going that they did not even have a chance
to eat, he said to them, 'Come with me by
yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest'" - Mark 6:31

Jesus kept a busy schedule, even on the Sabbath day when He usually appeared and often spoke and healed at Sabbath services. In this verse, Jesus and his team were so busy that they did not even have time to eat! Jesus' recommendation was that they get away to a quiet place and get some rest. Here their rest was not in response to a specific day but to a especially busy period in their ministry life. This verse indicates that leaders must watch their followers to make sure they stay fresh and refreshed, that rest is earned and required because of work and that rest is taken to re-egage work with new energy and enthusiasm.

LEADERSHIP STEP: Your Rest Stop today is to take a look at your people and determine if they are in need of rest. If so, then schedule a day off where possible and maybe even the same day off for everyone involved! If you can't do a day off, what else can you do to make sure that your people get away from the pressures of the busy schedules you all keep. If your people are weary, however, but the schedule isn't that busy, perhaps they don't need rest but more meaningful work!