NOVEMBER 10
THE REST OF GOD
Hebrews 4:9-11
9 There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from his. 11 Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience. (WEB)
God created us with a need to rest; it’s embedded in the DNA of every living thing. Without proper rest, our bodies don't function properly. It’s amazing to see how our Heavenly Father designed the human body to rely on rest. He could have made us able to go nonstop without stopping to rest, but He chose not to.
Without proper sleep every day, we can become sick and unproductive during our waking hours. Have you ever wondered why God created us to sleep one-third of our lives? I believe rest is crucial not only for survival but also for thriving in the world we live in.
Not only did God create us with the need for physical rest at night, but He also commanded the Israelites to take one day off each week to rest. This is what they call the Sabbath — the last day of the week set aside for resting and reflecting on God.
Since we live in a driven culture that expects 24/7 customer service, finding rest amid all the noise and demands around us is very hard. It's easy to feel guilty when we finally get a chance to rest. This is understandable in a society that values productivity. If you're not producing, what good are you?
I'm grateful that God's perspective is far different from broken humanity's view. The value He places on us isn't based on our productivity. He loves us simply because He loves us—no other reason! He also invites each of us to find a Sabbath rest in our hearts, where we stop all our own striving and self-effort.
My prayer today is that we all can see the incredible value in entering God's rest. Being at rest does not mean being lazy or self-centered. Jesus lived His life on earth in complete rest, yet He achieved everything His Father sent Him to do. May each of us find the place of rest that God has prepared for us, even during the busiest, most demanding times in our lives. If Jesus could fall asleep in the midst of a storm, we should be able to find rest even amid the most chaotic circumstances.
In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus extends an invitation to each of us to come to Him and find rest. May we all be diligent in entering into the rest He promises today...
28 “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (WEB)
9 There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from his. 11 Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience. (WEB)
God created us with a need to rest; it’s embedded in the DNA of every living thing. Without proper rest, our bodies don't function properly. It’s amazing to see how our Heavenly Father designed the human body to rely on rest. He could have made us able to go nonstop without stopping to rest, but He chose not to.
Without proper sleep every day, we can become sick and unproductive during our waking hours. Have you ever wondered why God created us to sleep one-third of our lives? I believe rest is crucial not only for survival but also for thriving in the world we live in.
Not only did God create us with the need for physical rest at night, but He also commanded the Israelites to take one day off each week to rest. This is what they call the Sabbath — the last day of the week set aside for resting and reflecting on God.
Since we live in a driven culture that expects 24/7 customer service, finding rest amid all the noise and demands around us is very hard. It's easy to feel guilty when we finally get a chance to rest. This is understandable in a society that values productivity. If you're not producing, what good are you?
I'm grateful that God's perspective is far different from broken humanity's view. The value He places on us isn't based on our productivity. He loves us simply because He loves us—no other reason! He also invites each of us to find a Sabbath rest in our hearts, where we stop all our own striving and self-effort.
My prayer today is that we all can see the incredible value in entering God's rest. Being at rest does not mean being lazy or self-centered. Jesus lived His life on earth in complete rest, yet He achieved everything His Father sent Him to do. May each of us find the place of rest that God has prepared for us, even during the busiest, most demanding times in our lives. If Jesus could fall asleep in the midst of a storm, we should be able to find rest even amid the most chaotic circumstances.
In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus extends an invitation to each of us to come to Him and find rest. May we all be diligent in entering into the rest He promises today...
28 “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (WEB)