Oct 27 2007
Do Your Best to Rest
“…There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest ….” (Hebrews 4:8b-11 NIV)
Most of us think of the Sabbath as a day of rest, originating from the day of rest God took after he created the universe, as recorded in Genesis. And that view is correct; that is the basis for us taking a Sabbath, a day of rest, within our own week.
Yet there is a larger sense of God’s Sabbath: an invitation to rest in God’s healing grace, trusting in his power and his purpose for your life. We rest in our Father’s arms, knowing he goes before and he goes behind, knowing that his plans for us are good and not evil (Jeremiah 29:11).
We enter this “let go and let God” rest through faith, where we cease to work and live independent of God (“… anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work …”). Instead, we’re to focus our efforts toward entering this Sabbath-trust in God, a restful certainty that God’s got a handle on it all, and that he’s got our best interests in mind.
If I recall correctly, Ian Thomas illustrates this point by telling the story of a man walking down a dusty rural road on a hot, humid day. The man is loaded down with a heavy backpack and carries a duffle bag in each hand. A pick-up truck comes along, and the driver offers the walking man a ride, telling him to hop in the back.
The driver heads down the road, but when he looks in the rear-view mirror he sees that his new passenger is standing in the bed of the truck – still holding both duffle bags, still wearing the over-packed backpack on his back.
The thing is: We stand in the truck of faith, still carrying our burdens, thinking they are independent of the ride we’re taking. Perhaps we think God can carry us, but not our burdens, that we have to keep bearing them ourselves.
What now?
· Rest in God – Rest in God’s power and grace, and work toward confidence (faith) that he is looking out for your best interests. “I believe; Lord, help my unbelief.”
· Rest requires dependence – If you’re working independently of God, then you’re not at rest in God. Possible signs that you’re working independently: worry, a need to control, a crammed-full schedule.
· Our Father’s heart encourages rest – Next time you feel overwhelmed by life, settle in a chair and “be still and know that he is God.” Give him your burdens – your backpack and your duffels.
· Faith leads to rest – Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:28-29 NIV)
by Jon Walker
Thank you. I needed that this morning. I have very bad neighbors who I am worried about because they are very argumentative and loud. I got very angry last night and then very worried this morning. I need God’s help and wisdom. I need to give him this duffle bag.
eye opted for this email
eye think this is really about death
how a man must die and enter his grave
to finally come out to meet GOD on the other side
it is possible to find and meet with HIM here
in his SPIRIT in his SON.
SAY JESUS and live.
http://www.poetrypoem.com/charlax
everyone must read my poems
All I can say is amen! I spent my life trying to prove to people and to God that I was a nice person worthy to appreciate, that is so damaging. I know Him for 44 years and He gets more and more special, but my last 10 months have been overwhelming with learning that I don’t have to prove anything to anyone, even to Him, he loves no matter what and I have learnt that resting in Him, being still in His presence is powerful.
He helps me through a journey in which I’m traveling now,
other people may not agree, but in His presence I do humbly bow.
I just want to be the daughter that He longs for me to be
resting in His presence, at peace and wonderfully, wonderfully free.
This scripture is beautiful and quite fitting for me. After a hard week in the classroom as a student and a teacher it is necessary to come apart from the world and rest in Jesus. Not only that but allowing God to be the central focus in my day-to-day life; thoughts, actions…… everything. Thank you Lord for leading me to this site and allowing me to have shared this scripture and devotion. (I signed up for it today after seeing it on someone’s myspace page
)
thank you, jon walker and may the Lord hold you in the palm of His hand….. for this and others writings of yours.
also thanks to the many people who, like me, are sharing how this has helped them in resting in Him.
i, too, say these words, but so often find myself standing in the back of that pick-up, still carrying everything. i have been also in the place where i am still and know that He is.
my hope is that i go to His place a lot more often. it is so peaceful there.
this is the first time i have written like this, even though i receive from this website each weekend.
Okay…I confess, I am spinning out of control, trying to control all of my everything, attempting to gain a sense of completion and peace. Never enough time, money or sanity to be the woman of God that I want to be. Lord, help me rest in you. Wash me with your forgiveness and replace this anxious spirit with your perfect peace, love and sound mind.
Thank you so much for bringing such insights into our lives. I really needed to read this today. I am going thru difficulties now, as all of us do at some time, and your message is as if God Himself is talking to me. It really correlates with my Sunday school lesson as well as the sermon yesterday. Yes, God is telling me to “Be still, and wait on Him.” It is a slow process for me, but I am learning to trust in Him and place my burdens at His feet. Thank you again for the words of inspiration. God Bless