Devotion: Rest A While

When we are tired or worn out, most of us know what it means, “to rest a while.”  Most of us would define this “rest” as a period where we would take a break from our labors in order to relax and regain our strength.  We would use it as a time to refrain from all strenuous or stressful activities so that we could refresh or rejuvenate ourselves.

“And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.  And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made” (Genesis 2:2).

Following his six days of creation, God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because he rested from all the work of creating he had done.  When we think of God resting, we should not confuse this “rest” with being worn out where he could not do, make, or create one more thing.

“…hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary” (Isaiah 40:28 NIV)?  “Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:4).

Scripture tells us that God does not get tired like we do, nor does he grow weary and neither does he slumber nor sleep.  So, what does it mean when it says God “rested” on the seventh day?  When God “rested” after his six days of creation, he had finished all of his creative works.  When God “rested” on the seventh day, there was nothing else that needed to be created, nothing else left to be done.  He “rested” like a lawyer resting his case after presenting all of his evidence.  God’s creation was complete, so he rested.

“There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his” (Hebrews 4:9-10).

Scripture tells us there remains this rest, “a Sabbath-rest” for the people of God.  Anyone who enters into this “Sabbath-rest” shall also “cease or rest” from all their works or labor just as God rested from all of his works. So how do we enter into this “Sabbath-rest?”

“Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.  For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it” (Hebrews 4:1-2).

Since the promise of entering into “Sabbath-rest” still stands, we need to be very careful that we do not fall short of entering in as did those long before us.  With his promise that all may enter into his “place of rest,” we should tremble with fear at the fact that some of us may be on the border of not getting in at all.  The same good news that was preached to the Israelites during the time of Moses when they left the land of Egypt has been preached to us, but the message they heard did not profit them.  They did not mix the good news that they heard, the message that God wants to save us, with their faith, so in the end, the message they heard was of no value to them because they did not believe it.  God’s plan was not for the Israelites to die in the wilderness, but for them to pass through and enter into “the land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 33:3).  However, because of their unbelief, they were not allowed to enter into God’s rest, into “the land of abundance, the land of never-ending blessings, and the land of total freedom.”  Because they did not add faith to the promise of God, they failed to enter into the land that was promised to them.

“Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief” (Hebrews 4:11).

How does one labor when entering into this “Sabbath-rest”?  In order for us to enter into this “rest,” we have to work or put forth some type of effort.  We labor by getting into the word of God, where the word of God is in us, as well as a part of our very being.  We put forth effort studying the word, meditating on the word, and living the word.  We have to spend time in the presence of God.  We have to labor to get into a position where we know God and in knowing God, we come to totally trust God.  We have to labor to get to a place where our faith in God is so strong, that we see God as our source for everything and we can “cast all of our cares upon him because we know that he cares for us” (I Peter 5:7).  God has provided for us “a land flowing with milk and honey; a place of abundance, of never-ending blessings, and of total freedom,” therefore, let us labor, unlike those who fell because of unbelief, to crossover and enter into his “Sabbath-rest where we cease from all of our works, as God did from his.”

We know that this “Sabbath-rest” is something new for many and by no means do we think this message completely covers it.  As you read today’s message, we pray that it will be an inspiration to you as well as a blessing as it serves to only introduce you to something that God has provided for his children.  If this message has been a blessing to you, please share it so that others may be blessed by it as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

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Kingdom Worker Ministries offers a series of products and resources to those desiring to dig deeper into the Word of God and break traditionalism to gain full truth of God’s words and principles.  Our products are designed to increase your awareness, improve your understanding, deepen your knowledge and inspire you to walk in truth.

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