Rest

Hebrews 4:1 "Therefore since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it."

Rest--just the mention of this word causes me to sigh. Rest is one of the greatest needs of our society. Everywhere I look, people are overwhelmed, overloaded, overworked and weary. Stress levels are at an all-time high and more people are on anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications than ever before. What has happened to us? It is though we are on a merry-go-round, and we can't jump off because it is going too fast. We are spinning out of control!

Hebrews 4:1 tells us that the promise of rest is attainable. However, God did not intend for us to rest on our own. He said to "take his yoke upon us"--in other words, BE JOINED with him in the act of resting--to LEARN from him about how rest is to be achieved.

I have been learning that "to rest" means "a space of peace reserved for you"; "to quit, cease, put down worry". The phrase "enter that rest" is mentioned over and over again in Hebrews 4. What is "that" rest? It is HIS rest (v.5) If it is HIS rest, then there is no way we can do it on our own. However, Hebrews 4:11 tells us to make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the bad example of the Jews in their lack of faith. So then, our part in resting is to join with God and believe him--to follow HIS example. Our part in resting is to cease striving, to quit worrying and to trust in his promises. He will provide the rest that we need. It then becomes a supernatural event. I heard a phrase this week: "Nothing makes God worry." I love to think that as I join with him and his attitude about things, I will not worry either. The slogan "Don't worry, be happy" takes on new meaning for me after reading Hebrews 4. (My son has the big mouth bass mounted on his wall that sings that silly song as you walk by!)

After God created the heavens and the earth, he rested from his work. However, the Bible never indicates that the rest ended. It was perpetual--this is God's example to us--perpetual rest in him!

Oh God, help us to LEARN from you as we join with you in YOUR rest that is promised to us!

Jesus, I am resting, resting in the joy of what Thou art;

I am finding out the greatness of Thy loving heart.

Thou has bid me gaze upon Thee and Thy beauty fills my soul,

For by Thy transforming power, Thou hast made me whole.

A Matter of the Heart

God has been reminding me lately that he is interested in my heart more than anything else that I have to offer. Not my talents, not my accomplishments, nor any of the "good things" that I have done. This is such a contrast to what the world considers to be important.

The keepers of the Law in Jesus' day were so consumed with their status and traditions based on the Laws that God once gave them. For them, it had become ritual, routine, and a matter of pride. However, Jesus rebuked them over and over again because they were missing the point: He spoke of them with these words; "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men." (Matt. 15:8-9). How tragic it was for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, in all of his glory to be standing in front of these men, and yet they did not even recognize who he really was. They did not have eyes to see or ears to hear because their hearts were "far from him." Perhaps this is why Solomon told his son, "Listen closely to my words; do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your HEART; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body. Above all else, guard your HEART, for it is the wellspring of life." (Prov. 4:20-23)

The risen Lord is in our midst today. Will we see him? Will we hear him? Christ reminds us in Matthew 5:8 that those who see God are those who are pure in HEART. It is our hearts he is after; not our traditions, our rituals, our status, or our hard work. Oh God, may our worship not be in vain to you. Let us hear your voice and see your glory as we seek you with whole hearts!

Remembrance

There is a theme of remembrance throughout the Bible. In Deuteronomy 4:9, God reminds us to watch ourselves closely so that we do not forget the things our eyes have seen, or let them slip from our hearts...
God knows that we are forgetful creatures. I am especially guilty of forgetfulness if I don't write myself a note of reminder. I have even written sticky notes to remind me of things, and then I forgot where I put the sticky notes!

Sometimes, people tie strings to their fingers to remember events, times, etc. God told the Jews to bind what he told them to their foreheads. Some of them took God at his Word and strapped little boxes to their foreheads. The boxes contained sections of Scripture. Though this is a little extreme, the ancient Jews had the right idea. Keep God's Word ever visible!

My faith can be shaken so easily by circumstances, but when I REMEMBER the promises of God, my faith is strengthened once again. When I am walking through the darkness and the storms, I must REMEMBER that the Lord is my light and my salvation...whom/what shall I fear? (Psalm 27:1)

I love reading the final words of Jesus as he spent time with his disciples before his death. He eloquently spoke in parables and used images that would stay with the disciples after he left this earth. Most importantly, Jesus promised the Holy Spirit who would come and REMIND them of all that he had said to them. As he ate the last supper with his disciples, Jesus said, "Do this in REMEMBRANCE of me." In other words, "DO NOT FORGET WHAT HAPPENED HERE TONIGHT. DO NOT FORGET ANYTHING THAT I HAVE SAID TO YOU." For he knew that their faith would be tested beyond anything they could imagine.

As we enter this Palm Sunday, and Holy Week, let us REMEMBER the things that Christ has said to us. Let us REMEMBER his life, his death and ultimately, his resurrection. And finally, let us REMEMBER that he promises to be with us, even to the very end of the age. Hallelujah!

Dependence

2 Cor. 12:9 "My power is made perfect in weakness...for when I am weak, then I am strong--the less I have, the more I depend on Him." (TLB)

It has been said that when God wants to do something great, He starts with a difficulty. When God wants to do something miraculous, He starts with an impossibility. The weaknesses or limitations that we possess will create difficulties or even possibilities in many of our situations.

When our weakness and limitations are combined with an overwhelming task, this can be an invitation for God to overwhelm us with His presence and power as He partners with us to accomplish the task.

I have a hard time viewing weakness as a good thing, but God seems to think otherwise. He seems touse our weaknesses to transform us from arrogant to humble, from insecure to bold, from impulsive to stable and hot-tempered to patient. This kind of transformation can only come from complete dependence on Him.

For me to realize a weakness, it is as if I've exposed an open wound. But what I have found as I have admitted my weakness to the Lord, is that I am taking steps toward freedom--freedom from carrying the heavy load of self-sufficiency. I can then cross over that difficult threshold of faith into total dependence on God. Of course, the only way I can do that, is to come to the end of myself. Why do I want to hang onto "myself"? I am not the one that the world needs to see, but Christ! When I completely depend on Christ through my weakness, it is His sufficiency and power that is made absolutely whole and complete in me. Then, the world no longer sees my weakness, but His power.

I just have to remind myself that it is about less of me and more of Him. My total dependence on God insures my security, increases my faith, and allows me to influence others to depend on God as well.

I guess we all need to remember that when we are feeling weak, that God is remind us to depend on Him. We can then boast about our weaknesses as the apostle Paul did, for through them, God's power is unleashed!

"Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong!" (2 Cor. 12:9-10)

Surrender

"But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ." (Phil. 3:7)

When we surrender to something or someone, there is a sense that we have lost our dignity and we often view ourselves as weak and inferior. However, it takes courage to surrender--courage to step out in faith, believing that God grants His greatest blessing to those who are fully surrendered to Him.

A surrendered Christian is one who has given up the fight to own his own life, for he understands Christ's promise, "He who loses His own life for my sake shall find it." (Matt. 10:39). A surrendered Christian is one who has learned to be content in all things because he has discovered the Lord as his helper. (Phil. 4:11) A surrendered Christian can say " I will not be afraid, for God is with me." (Heb. 13:5-6) A surrendered Christian, though he may be weak in the flesh, is strong because he has allowed God's power to be demonstrated through weakness. (2 Cor. 12:9)

Frances Havergal, the writer of the hymn, "Take My Life and Let it Be", once said, "There must be full surrender before there can be full blessedness." She learned the secret of letting go of all of the trappings of this world, in order to gain the richest treasures that heaven could afford. The more she gave to the Lord, the more He gave her in return. She eventually gave God all that she had; her material possessions, her mind, her will, her voice, her feet, her life. And God gave her Himself. All she desired was more of Him; and so the cycle of surrender continued in her life. She could say along with the apostle Paul, "I count all things as loss for the sake of knowing Christ." (Phil. 3:8)

Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord to Thee
Take my moments and my days
Let them flow in ceaseless praise
Let them flow in ceaseless praise

Simplicity

"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven." (Matt.18:3)

It amazes me that the Christian life is based upon principles that are basic as well as complicated. Even though the God of all creation possess thoughts and ways that are far beyond those of man, He has fashioned our steps to His Kingdom with simplicity!

I am still trying to digest the meaning of Matthew 18:3-4 when Jesus admonished his disciples to become like little children in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. When you observe little children, it is easy to see that they believe and receive with no hesitation. They speak of the joy and pain in their hearts with no inhibition. Children run to open arms where safety and security await them. Most importantly, children need guidance from those in authority over them.

The more I depend on God, the more I see that He longs to fulfill His faithfulness and sufficiency to me--His child. For those of us who dare to come to Him with child-like faith, and receive Him with all of the fullness that He offers, we will gain the mind of Christ and inherit power to change the world. Simple faith and simple obedience equals mighty men and women of God!

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus
Just to (simply) take Him at His Word
Just to (simply) rest upon His promise
Just to (simply) know "Thus saith the Lord."

"Blessed are you who are poor in spirit (you who are simply relying on God, one day at a time, one step at a time), for yours is the Kingdom of Heaven." (Matt.5:3)

Thank you, God, for the gift of simplicity!

Transparency

"Search me, Oh God and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23-24)

The Psalmist asked God to search his heart to find his anxious and offensive thoughts. The all-seeing, all-knowing God already knew David's thoughts and motives, yet David offered himself as a transparent offering to his creator. By doing so, he admitted his frailty before God. He took one step further, and requested a response from God regarding his personal thoughts and feelings. What a tremendous act of courage!

David knew the One who knit him in his mother's womb. (Ps. 139:13) He knew that his frame was not hidden from God when he was made in the secret place. (Ps. 139:15) As he reflected about the way he was fearfully and wonderfully made, David realized that he was loved the most by the One who knew him most intimately.

Joyous communion with the Heavenly Father occurs when we come before Him in total transparency. He sees us for who we are and then we are overcome by the fact that He would love us with unfailing love no matter what we have done

Transparency toward God produces dependency, trust and security in Him. True worship begins when we surrender all of who we are to all of who God is--all of our desires, needs, thoughts, and shortcomings to His infinite power and conditional love.

"How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them..." (Ps. 139:17) May we never forget the beauty of our transparency before God because it is the birthplace of God's greatest work in us!