Rest

REST
Genesis 2:1-7
V.2: “By the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on the seventh day He rested from all His work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy; because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done.”

Psalm 46:10
“Be still and know that I am God.”

Aaron erupted from the river’s depth and scrambled onto the shore where his classmates had come to celebrate his tenth Birthday. “Eat some of this ice cream before it melts!” Aaron’s Mom insisted.

Ben, Evan, and Ashley tossed a Frisbee. “I can’t believe that we’ve got to return to school so soon!” Aaron said, disgusted.

“Yeah, it’s too hot to sit inside a classroom!” Ben said.

“After making up all the snow days, this Summer’s too short!” Ashley complained.

Kids love frolicking in the water during summer recess. Where do the kids go who live in southern Louisiana, Mississippi, or Alabama to cool off? Their beach is tainted from the oil gush that began spewing earlier this year. Their wetlands destroyed, wildlife dying. What’s up with this Summer’s heat? Too cold in winter, too hot in summer! Where will God’s kids find relief? When will we get a break?

When adults cannot work, where do they find stress release? We remember times when life totally stops. The power goes off, and we sit in the dark. An ice storm blankets the entire landscape, and we’re home bound. God forbid---what would happen if a dirty bomb creates an EMP (electro-magnetic pulse) and everything with electronic circuitry shuts down?

Gulp! No TV! No computers! What would happen if we’re suddenly thrown into the stone age? Unexpected disasters do more than distract us, they halt life. All of a sudden priorities are reshuffled to determine what’s truly important. In Old Testament times, God got people to stop and pay attention to Him by calling the seventh week day called “the Sabbath”.

Jesus’ death ushered in a new Covenant between God and His kids—animal sacrifices aren’t necessary for sins’ atonement. We’re no longer required to honor rest, as proclaimed by God’s ancient law; few businesses are closed for the Sabbath today.

Should we return to that one day of total rest from work and worries on our Sabbath today?

Take Home Nugget

By practicing a day of rest can prevent our erroneous belief that work and worry is more important than time spent in God’s presence. If it’s relief we’re seeking, God’s anxious to respond to that need.

He provides my work, and I seek his rest.
He supplies strength that sees me through every test.
Without knowing it, I continually walk in His grace
While finding joy when observing His pace.

J.D. Griffith

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