Working Out of Rest

WORKING OUT OF REST

Hebrews 4:3

“Now, we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, ‘So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter My rest.’ And yet His work has been finished since the creation of the world.”

Moses led an entire generation of Jewish people out of slavery in Egypt to their promised land—who never arrived (see lesson, linked below). If you check the map, Canaan is about a seven day hard journey by camel from Egypt. And yet, it took forty years! Many who left Egypt died on the way to their promised land. Even Moses wasn’t allowed to step one foot into Canaan! Why? Disobedience.

Hebrews 4:1-2 shows why the unfortunate Jews missed out: “Therefore, since the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard did not combine it with faith.” (Emphasis added).

How sad that they didn’t enter God’s rest while alive...but we can! How can we work out of rest? It’s a gift of grace from God through faith in Jesus Christ. Christians have righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). That’s what God’s “kingdom come,” phrase in the Lord’s Prayer really means.

Whenever believers surrender ourselves to God, it is Christ who lives through us (Galatians 2:20). It’s simple to give our best while living totally at peace. At day’s end, we can be assured that our work is done. And done well. Our rest is the peaceful confidence that our lives are in step with God’s will. We’re not working strictly by human strength. God is our strength. Remember Philippians 4:13: “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”

Consider that many a preacher has had to be content with sermons given where one point was missed. That must be what God intended, when God is their strength. Isn’t surrendering to God and working in peace better than worrying about how you may have messed up?

May I share with you my peace knowing that Jesus lives through me every day I surrender my life to Him? My life is laced with peace and joy, knowing that every task is done well.

Take Home Nugget

It’s also great to know that even when Christians are disobedient, our faith in Christ enables us to enter our promised land. Heaven, eternal life, is Jesus’ gift that’s available to everyone who believes in Him.

Our hardest work done on human strength can’t equal the supernatural work we do while resting in Christ.

HAPPY LABOR DAY, USA!

J.D. Griffith

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