Throughout the world there is a common occurrence that excites those who labor during the week.  It is called the weekend.  It is a day or couple days off at the end of a workweek.  That glorious opportunity to rest from one’s week of labor!

Scripture speaks about this idea of rest in two very different ways in the context of two very different covenants.

Under the Old Covenant Israel was commanded to observe a day of rest.  It was to acknowledge that God created everything in six days and then rested on the seventh day.  So Israel was commanded to remember the Sabbath Day in order to keep it separated as a stand alone from all other days.  (That is what it means to keep it holy.)

Under the New Covenant we read the following:   Hebrews 3:10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

Now any thinking person knows that this cannot mean a person never labors to provide for their family or themself.  That would be absolutely absurd.  So it must mean something entirely different than that.

This is speaking of a persons efforts to be made righteous, or to maintain righteousness before God.  The rest that is referred to in Hebrews 3:10 is speaking of a gift that is given through Jesus.  It is speaking of a continual rest from laboring to be accepted, forgiven, made right with God, or loved by Him.  This rest is a free gift that comes by grace through faith in Jesus.  It is not of works, otherwise you would be able to boast of how you achieved it.    

We do not work to obtain, or to maintain fellowship with God, we simply put our trust in Jesus to enjoy the fruits of it.  It is by  believing that we receive the benefits afforded us through the obedience of Jesus at the cross.

I know our faith will produce actions in life.  But we should never forget that our actions are meant to springboard off of our faith, not the other way around.

To miss this amazing promise of rest is akin to being on a gerbil wheel always running, but never really going anywhere.  That my friend is not your inheritance in Christ.  I encourage you today to ask the Holy Spirit to teach you what it means to rest in Christ, and to once again enjoy belonging to Him.  I promise it will not make you less productive or effective.  It will enhance your view of things and make you even more productive in the long run.

This is a rest that invades your soul every day no matter what might be taking place.  This is what I call leaning into Him!  I encourage you today to “Learn to live in rest!”