Hebrews 4:9
"So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God."
If there is one thing I am continually encouraging Believers [and myself!] to do, it is to rest. Rest in Jesus that is. Resting in Jesus is precipitated by God first establishing this rest upon Creation's completion. For us resting is an indicator that our faith and trust lie in Jesus' finished work on the Cross, arising again so we could be free, adopted into God's family and have everlasting life. No more laboring but moving through life righteously as a precious saint of God, resting just as He did. Knowing His call cannot be revoked and His Promises are pure like silver refined seven times over while meditating on His majestic splendor and His glorious miracles. To help me enter and stay in this special rest, I hide God's Word in my heart. In particular Hebrews 4 which simultaneously encourages us to reverently fear God, have faith and rest while simultaneously warning against walking in the unbelief and disobedience exhibited by the Israelites. It helps to remember that
Jesus is R.E.S.T.
REVEALED [Colossians 2:9]
"For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body."
EVERLASTING [Isaiah 9:6]
"For a Child is born to us, a Son is given to us. The government will rest on His shoulders. And He will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
SOVEREIGN [Colossians 1:16, Psalm 22:28]
"for through Him God created everything in the Heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see — such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through Him and for Him."
"For royal power belongs to the Lord. He rules all the nations."
TRUTH [John 14:6]
Jesus told him, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through Me."
[Hebrews 4:{1} 6-11]
"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."..."So God’s rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard this Good News failed to enter because they disobeyed God. So God set another time for entering His rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted: 'Today when you hear His voice, don’t harden your hearts.' Now if Joshua had succeeded in giving them this rest, God would not have spoken about another day of rest still to come. So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall."
[Emphasis added]
The posture of rest is soo good. Why? Because you’re not working for the Salvation that Jesus already died to give you so you can rest and that God established and kept available since Creation for you to enter. The finished work of the Cross stops my striving and enables my striding into my purpose and His Plans. I trust what He has done and His Word that He does what He says He will do. This not a physical rest though sometimes a positive effect of resting in Jesus is a sweet sound sleep in the natural. That kind of sleep, let me tell you, is the best physical sleep you will ever have. And this special rest that God established is the best rest you will ever have. Oh come let us adore Him.
IT. IS. FINISHED!!! So I am free to rest.
Takeaways for you to remember:
God rested because His task was complete.
We can rest because Jesus' task is complete.
Knowing and believing IT IS FINISHED = REST.
Yours in Christ!
Dr. Quahana
Want to enjoy some of the Scriptures inspiring this entry?
[NLT version unless otherwise noted.]
Hebrews 4
Genesis 2:1-3
Psalm 22:28
Matthew 11:28-30
John 19:30
Psalm 12:6-7
Colossians 2:9
Isaiah 9:6
Colossians 1:16
Psalm 22:28
John 14:6
Romans 11:29
Psalm 145:10
Psalm 119:11
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