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August 16, 2024
- By Ed Powell
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"Now we who have believed enter that rest." Hebrews 4:3
The Word has "gold nuggets" of truth and principles we often rush through, when we need to stop and quietly walk through these "rich pastures" and feed our souls on the many provisions of God's grace. Let us enter that rest.
What do you think it means to believe in God? It involves unreserved trust, a full conscious commitment, one who relies completely on God and one who adheres to the truth without question. Our belief in God is the result of the Holy Spirit drawing us to Him, and a child-like faith (that is, we lean on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and grace that finds its validity in the sterling majestic character of God).
Many of God's promises are contingent upon our appropriating them in simple faith and meet the conditions given. Isaiah spoke of this "rest wherewith you may cause the weary to rest...and this is the refreshing" (Isaiah 28:12). It is the rest that comes to us when we turn from the weariness of our sin, from the hopelessness of our walk, and the fruitlessness of our efforts. We can only be reconciled to God and find HIS rest through the atonement of Christ--His sacrificial death on the cross for our sins. Unbelief is seen in the many erroneous ways man improvises to gain favor with God, rather than accepting by faith, the ONLY WAY God has provided...through Jesus Christ, His Son, our Savior.
How precious is this rest. It is knowing the reality of His care, His comfort, and His companionship. His rest invades our life as we claim and appropriate the promises He has given. David knew of this wonderful rest as he writes in Psalm 23..."He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters, he restores my soul." Such a blessed rest is ours as we accept the truth of His Word and apply it in believing faith in practical everyday life. His truth is simple, yet profound. To know His rest is to rest in Him!
But God's rest is not arbitrarily given to all believers. We cannot presume upon the grace of God. We cannot behave inconsistently and disrespectfully to the principles and truth of God's Word and expect God to overlook the sin of such a life. He will not give to us His rest when our walk is characterized in such a manner.
God is merciful and will forgive all who will come in repentance to be restored. The psalmist experienced this..."The sorrows of death compassed me: I found trouble and sorrow. Then I called upon the name of the Lord; O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and he helped me...RETURN UNTO THY REST...O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee (Psalm 116:1-7).
Do not be disillusioned by man's erroneous teaching or by the deceitfulness of your heart. Only God can impart the rest your soul longs for. Jesus said, "Come unto me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).
Have you claimed this rest that is yours in Christ? Dare to trust!
© 2007 by Ed Powell. Used by permission.
This page was reprinted by permission from: http://litmin.org/dare.php?date=2024-08-16
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