The Jewish people refused God’s plan and rejected their Savior; thus, the promise of entering his place of rest still stands—God has made this rest available to Christians. The promise stands for those who remain obedient to him.
The Old Testament Jews received God’s message in the great deliverance from Egypt and the covenant given to Moses at Mount Sinai. These New Testament believers received this Good News of God’s place of rest in the person of Jesus Christ, his death on the cross, and his resurrection. Jews from both the Old Testament era and the New Testament era had received communication from God. But for many, the message did them no good. Why not? They didn’t believe what God told them. Not only must God’s message be heard, it must also be combined with faith before it will be effective.
The point has already been made that the Old Testament Jews had failed to enter God’s “rest”, yet this promise of rest still stands. Only those who believe can enter God’s place of rest. Believing in Jesus may seem easy, almost effortless, just a nod, a quick prayer, or a walk forward at a church service. While making a profession of faith in Christ is simple, truly believing in Jesus leads to a life of commitment and discipleship that will put the believer at odds with the greedy, self-centered, cruel, and power-grabbing world. People who believe in Jesus find that each day requires a full effort. Those who believe in this way enter God’s place of rest.
Genesis 2:2 records that on the seventh day after creating the universe, God rested, not because he was tired, but to indicate the completion of creation. The world was perfect, and God was satisfied with it, so he rested. This does not mean that God became idle; Jesus taught that God still works (John 5:17). God’s rest is both present peace with God and future eternal joy when creation will be renewed, every mark of sin removed, and the world made perfect again. Those who believe will join God in his rest and one day be restored to a perfect condition. Our rest in Christ begins when we trust him to complete his good and perfect work in us.
SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)
Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)- "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
How do you find "Rest"? You give your life to Jesus Christ. You commit your life to Him. You receive Him into your heart. And then...? You follow Him. You surrender to His will and way daily. You seek to honor Him in all you do.
Entering His rest is more than just praying a prayer. Entering his rest is getting off your road of life and unto Christ's. When you do that, He takes your burdens. He walks with you through life and some days carries you through. It strikes me that so often when the proverbial "FAT" hits the fan, we run around like chickens with our heads cut off. Going from one person to another to unburden our souls and share our plight in life with.
But God wants us to go to Him first. He wants us to entrust Him with our burdens and problems and stress. When we do that, we find the rest for our souls we long for.
1 Peter 5:7 (AMP) says, "Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully."
Would you do this today? Give it all to him.Enter His rest. I love you guys. Stay faithful. Stay the course.
No comments:
Post a Comment