Daily Reading: Hebrews 3-4
So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest (Hebrews 4.9-11)
Devotional Thought: Life comes in waves. Sometimes those waves come right on top of each other! Recently my wife and I have been so busy we haven't had time to rest. Preparations for moving, requirements of work, trips to family and visits with friends, keeping up with the daily demands of life - all these have overwhelmed us. We need "a Sabbath rest."
How in the world can we rest from our work and enter God's rest? Hebrews 4 gives us three definite ways:
Believe. Verse 3 says, "Only people who have faith will enter that rest" (CEV) When we put our faith and trust in God, our burden gets lighter. We may be busy, but we can rest knowing that the results are in God’s hands.
Obey. Verse 6 says that some "did not go in because of their disobedience" (NIV). Obedience is crucial to resting in God. As God reveals his will and we obey, life becomes more focused and intentional. The good gives way to the best. A lot of what keeps us from resting are things that God never intended for us to do anyway!
Work. That’s right – in order to rest we must work! Verse 11 says we are to "strive to enter that rest." Work to rest? Yes! To rest, we must change the focus of our efforts away from the tasks at hand and to the greater task of communion with God (prayer, scripture, compassion, etc). This requires the hard work of discipline, planning, and prioritizing.
Are you overwhelmed with life? Jesus has said, “Come to me and I will give you rest.” How do I do that? Believe. Obey. Work. May God give you rest!
Prayer: Lord, I am so busy! I feel like Martha who complained, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?" Help me to heed your words and "choose the good portion," finding rest in your presence. Amen.
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 51:1-6
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
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