Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - "Enter in to God’s Rest" Monday, 12 January 2015 - Scripture: Hebrews 4:1-13

Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - "Enter in to God’s Rest" Monday, 12 January 2015 - Scripture: Hebrews 4:1 The promise to enter the place of rest is still good, and we must take care that none of you miss out. 2 We have heard the message, just as they did. But they failed to believe what they heard, and the message did not do them any good. 3 Only people who have faith will enter the place of rest. It is just as the Scriptures say,
“God became angry
    and told the people,
‘You will never enter
    my place of rest!’”
God said this, even though everything has been ready from the time of creation. 4 In fact, somewhere the Scriptures say that by the seventh day, God had finished his work, and so he rested. 5 We also read that he later said, “You people will never enter my place of rest!” 6 This means that the promise to enter is still good, because those who first heard about it disobeyed and did not enter. 7 Much later God told David to make the promise again, just as I have already said,
“If you hear his voice today,
    don’t be stubborn!”
8 If Joshua had really given the people rest, there would not be any need for God to talk about another day of rest. 9 But God has promised us a Sabbath when we will rest, even though it has not yet come. 10 On that day God’s people will rest from their work, just as God rested from his work.
11 We should do our best to enter that place of rest, so that none of us will disobey and miss going there, as they did. 12 What God has said isn’t only alive and active! It is sharper than any double-edged sword. His word can cut through our spirits and souls and through our joints and marrow, until it discovers the desires and thoughts of our hearts. 13 Nothing is hidden from God! He sees through everything, and we will have to tell him the truth.
"Enter in to God’s Rest" by Paul Martin
It was Sunday afternoon. We sat at a picnic table overlooking the waves as the mighty Atlantic washed over seaweed-covered boulders on the Ghana shore. The sea breeze cooled our faces as it steadily spread fronds of the tall palms into banners waving against a gorgeous sky. The pounding surf added sound effects. I lifted my eyes to the palm fronds and then beyond toward the azure sky. For a blocked-out space this afternoon I was pressing no agenda. Washing over my inner being was renewal, a gift of grace. I drank it in.
The night before my wife had noted, “I’m ready for Sabbath.” Our schedule had overflowed for months and remained packed: administration, phone calls, emails, priorities to meet, educational program studies, writing projects to complete, and more. All were in the stack demanding attention.
The “very God of peace” designed a rest for the inner being. Death to the self-way, and a whole-souled “Yes!” to Him—it’s the way to His Sabbath rest in the core of one’s being. It’s yours by faith. Live it up!
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