Come to me... and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28
 

Vine's Expository Dictionary defines rest as an intermission of labor; or in other words a "time-out."
 
What a verse as we head into the Christmas season, when we typically can't even catch our breath! Jesus says to call a "time-out"!
 
I was coaching a middle school basketball game years ago. I decided our team could use a time-out so I began shouting "time-out, time-out!" However, before the referee stopped play, we lost possession of the ball. In basketball, you must have the ball to call a time-out. As the other team took the ball down the court, a very inexperienced clock keeper, blew the horn. The gymnasium went silent. When the ref looked incredulously at the scorer's table for an explanation, the clock keeper pointed to me and said, "He said he wanted a time-out!" Anecdote aside, it was an example of not getting a time-out when I needed one.
 
Sunday night, a few weeks ago, the Baltimore Ravens stopped the unbeaten New England Patriots on a 4th and one late in the game. It would have assured their huge upset victory except for the fact that unbeknownst to the players on the field, a Ravens coach called a time-out just before the play began, nullifying the results. The Patriots, given another opportunity went on to win the game. A case of getting a time-out when they didn't need one.
 
UNC won the NCAA men's basketball championship years ago, largely because an opposing player called a time-out when they had none available resulting in a technical foul.* (see note at bottom)
 
When left to our own devices, we take time-outs when we don't need them, don't take time-outs when we do need them or try to take them when we don't have any!
 
What a blessing we have when Jesus says that anytime, anywhere we can take a time-out with Him. This refreshing is always available because  it's not predicated on religion or doctrine but on a person, God the Son, Jesus Christ.
 
There's probably not a person out there that does not need rest. All we have to do is go to the One that makes the offer. The Psalm says to "be still and know that I am God." It's ironic (as are most of God's ways) that the one who "lay in a manger, no crib for a bed", the one who said "foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head" offers us rest.
 
May we all, at just the right time, take the Lord up on the glorious offer.
 
 
 
* Any of you sports nuts will recall that Chris Webber should have been called for a traveling violation prior to his calling time-out!