Commanded to Rest

God rested on the seventh day after all His work was done. How much more do we need tot rest?

Resting Lion courtesy of Petr Kratochvil

1 And the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it; because that in it he rested from all his work which God had created and made.

Genesis 2:1-3 (ASV)

I have never been good at resting. As soon as I sit down or lie down I think of all the things left to do. Why is that? What am I thinking? If God rested on the seventh day, and He doesn’t need rest, why do I think I don’t?

1 Let us fear therefore, lest haply, a promise being left of entering into his rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed we have had good tidings preached unto us, even as also they: but the word of hearing did not profit them, because it was not united by faith with them that heard. 3 For we who have believed do enter into that rest;

Heb 4:1-3 (ASV)

As a believer we must learn to rest in the work that Christ did for us. It is so easy to jump on the I have to please God with my work wagon. What pleases Him however is the faith we have in what Jesus did.

28 They said therefore unto him, What must we do, that we may work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

John 6:28-29 (ASV)

How do we enter that rest? We believe what he did. As a result of knowing what Christ did for us our motives for what we do change. The motive of love takes over what we put our hands to. So instead of working to impress God we need to realize he is already impressed with what Christ did, and what we do doesn’t change that. That is why it is called the good news.

So what happens if we continue in unbelief in what Christ did, and keep trying to earn God’s love?

Before I was displeased with this generation, And said, They do always err in their heart: But they did not know my ways; 11 As I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest. 12 Take heed, brethren, lest haply there shall be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God: 13 but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called To-day; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin: 14 for we are become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end: 15 while it is said, To-day if ye shall hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. 16 For who, when they heard, did provoke? nay, did not all they that came out of Egypt by Moses? 17 And with whom was he displeased forty years? was it not with them that sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that were disobedient? 19 And we see that they were not able to enter in because of unbelief.

Heb 3:7-19 (ASV)

We have to work at believing. That is the work God wants us to do. Yes, God desires us to do good works which are rewarded, but this is not supposed to be a burden to us. If we are just doing something because we believe we have to, instead of we get to out of our appreciation for God, then eventually it becomes a burden. If this happens Christ implores us to come rest in Him. What do you need in order rest in Him?

28 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30 (ASV)

Happy Labor Day Beloved! Rest in Him today.❤ Melinda