The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed; a hidden treasure; a fishing net.
Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables (Matthew 13:34).
A Modern-Day Parable
The human body is like an automobile.
It takes fuel, electricity and intelligence for an automobile to drive. Gasoline is required to burn as fuel to propel the automobile. The battery and alternator provide electricity to start the car and for all of its electrical components to operate.
And it takes some intelligence to drive the car safely and for it to reach its destination.
Likewise, the human body needs calories (fuel) in the form of food which provides energy for every cell to function. It similarly generates electricity that is vital to your nervous system and heart. And, you also require intelligent direction to help you navigate “safely” to life’s destinations.
And, like an automobile, these three sources of energy need to be continually supplied. The cleanest source of calories to burn for energy come from healthy carbohydrates in fruits and vegetables, and from healthy fats like those found in fish, nuts, seeds, avocados and coconuts.
However, both nerve energy and spiritual energy come from a much different source — REST!
Spiritual Rest
Spiritual “energy” comes from one type of rest. Faith!
In order to rest in the Lord we must have faith. Jesus said, Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
Matt. 11:28
He warns us about the danger of not embracing this. God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it (Hebrews 4:1).
And the only requirement in order to partake in this rest is faith!
For only we who believe can enter his rest.
Heb. 4:3
But faith is inexorably linked to one more important biblical mandate. Obedience!
And to whom was God speaking when he took an oath that they would never enter his rest? Wasn’t it the people who disobeyed him?
So we see that because of their unbelief they were not able to enter his rest (Hebrews 3:18-19). This helps us understand the all-important link between disobedience and unbelief, and the significance of this decree; whatever is not from faith is sin (Romans 14:23).
Your service as a Christian is to be attentive to God’s voice and do what he says.
Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matt. 11:29
Physical Rest
The other type of rest comes in physical form. It is with sleep that you regenerate the vital nerve energy that flows throughout your nervous system and keeps your heart beating in its healthy rhythm.
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Drs. Jeff and Andrea Hazim have been teaching and ministering together since they were married in 1999. They recorded the original Lessons for Healthy Living series in 2001.
Dr. Andrea's passion for health was sparked in her teenage years. One of her fondest memories is attending a Juice Man seminar at the age of 16, where she caught the vision for how true health changes lives! Andrea quickly learned the value that whole food nutrition plays in reclaiming and maintaining health. At 19, she moved to London and became a certified Massage Therapist.
Andrea moved back to the U.S. and practiced massage for 13 years. During that time she became increasingly dissatisfied with the woefully deficient diet of Americans, especially youth. This led her to study nutrition and natural health at Life University in Atlanta. After earning bachelor degrees in both Nutritional Sciences and Nutritional Dietetics, she also completed a Doctorate in Chiropractic.
During her studies, missions work became Andrea's passion. While serving in Panama, she met her husband Dr. Jeff, who also has a love for missions, and who shares so many other common interests! They were married shortly after they met and moved to South Florida, where they opened their dream wellness center, and saw many lives transformed!
For more than two decades, Dr. Jeff has helped patients with chiropractic, nutrition, exercise, cleansing, and detoxification. Jeff is also dedicated to counseling clients and friends through life's greatest challenges by integrating God's Word into all he advises. This naturally led to the development of Full Stature Consulting, in which Drs. Jeff and Andrea act as Extreme Life Coaches, directing individuals and companies to realize their full potential. Jeff also loves to teach God's Word in a way that fuels a passion for Biblical truth. His inspirational book The Heart of David: Building the Spiritual Temple will profoundly impact your faith.
Drs. Jeff and Andrea are blessed with the privilege of shepherding their three sons'Isaiah, Cyrus and Shiloh whom they homeschool as they travel and speak. The Hazim family's sincere prayer is that the 24 modules of Lessons for Healthy Living 2.0 provide you with many pearls of health wisdom, and enable you and your loved ones to reach, and even exceed, your goals body, soul, and spirit!
