Rest

Matthew 11:28 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

 

This week, Michael writes: Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice.” This verse is a command. Rejoicing is in the object of our joy. Despite the trials of this world, our rejoicing is in the Lord. In times of trouble, trial and tribulation, when all seems bleak and hopeless, God will say: Rest in my peace because I have you in the hollow of my holy hand. 

 

There is an oxymoron in this life that what men mean for evil, God meant for good. Without a spiritual battle, there can be no spiritual victory. Example: When the Chinese Communists outlawed Christianity, churches moved underground. Today, Christianity is exploding with growth in China. The benefit on the backend is that God deepens us in the furnace of affliction and refines us in the fire of tribulation. He purifies our soul in the fires of pain. God will bring us through what seems to be a wind of destruction and we learn wisdom through the experience. As the Apostle Paul came to understand after he had prayed for God to remove his thorn in the flesh: “Thy strength is made perfect in my weakness, thy grace is sufficient for me.” Therefore God says: “Draw upon the resources of my grace. So shall you be equipped through the testing to testify for me 

and help others in the future who have the same affliction. I have you in my own intensive care.” 1 Peter 5:7says, “Casting all your cares upon the Him for He cares for you.” Our almighty heavenly Father is our very present help in time of trouble. Heaven rejoices when we go through trials with a singing spirit, enduring the test without questioning His mercy, trusting in our Maker and knowing that we will learn from it. Christ will be revealed in it when He brings us through the refining fire.

Grace is “all of Thee and none of me”, for grace is from God. Ephesians 2:8-10 declares. “For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship (His poem, His poetry in motion, His word of art) created in Christ Jesus unto good works which he has prepared beforehand for us to walk.” The book of Hebrews was written to Israel, the twelve tribes descended from Abraham and Jacob to remind them of the purpose for which God sent the Messiah, Jesus the Christ the son of the living God. Hebrews 3:12-13 says, “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

Sin is so deceitful that it can trick you to think that sin is acceptable. When we’re indoctrinated by the godless world’s doctrine we will succumb to the world’s definitions that call good evil and evil good. However, the encouragement of believing Christ-followers day by day is the antidote to the deceitfulness of Sin. It’s good to remember those who faithfully taught us the Word of God. Whom the Lord loves, he corrects. 2 Timothy 3:16instructs us, “The Word of God is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, and correction, for instruction in righteousness.” To correct here means to restore to an upright position before God. In the journey to glory on this side of eternity, in the daily walk with the Lord, thank God for brothers and sisters in Christ who encourage us in the Lord … those who restore us to an upright position.

According to Hebrews 3:18-19, “And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.” The “sabbath rest” is one of the central themes of the book of Hebrews. The “rest” signifies the completed work of Jesus Christ through His crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus said, “I did not come to destroy the Old Testament law, and the Prophets, but to fulfill them.” When we rest in the completed work that Jesus Christ accomplished on our behalf, we can empty our internal resentment bank. To forgive others, we can rest in the assurance of that which God has forgiven us. God doesn’t angrily wait for us to return our hearts back to Him. Like the forgiving Father who awaited the prodigal son’s return, when we return to our heavenly Father, He will run to meet us and restore us back into His fellowship.  

We encourage one another in the faith when we walk together day by day in unity and harmony of spirit. Therefore, enter into His rest, for Jesus said, “come unto me all you who are weak and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” When we rest in the hollow of God’s holy hand, we will not worry about the affairs of this world. In resting in Him, we are in the calm eye of the spiritual hurricane. Our responsibility is to obey Jesus’ command to get in His lifeboat to go to the other side. Then, when the winds rage and the storm-tossed waves crash around us, He will say, “Peace be still.” Even the winds and waves of life obey Him. God is faithful to His word. The Creator of all is still sovereign over all. Despite the strife, contention, and confusion of this God-rejecting world, regardless of the results of man’s election, we can rest in the assurance that we are the result of God’s election so that we may ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!

Your brother in Christ, Michael