This is one of the last naps Caleb took. When we went in to wake him up, and he looked so peaceful that we all climbed in to snuggle. These two fell back to sleep. The restful atmosphere was contagious. Doesn't this just make you want a nap?
God has been talking to me about rest. It seems like everywhere I read, every podcast or song I listen to, they have a theme: rest. The message He's been whispering started to become clear a couple mornings ago while I was reading Hebrews. I recomend reading all of chapters 3 and 4 together. The writer of Hebrews is recounting in Chapter 3 the journeys of the Israelites. He is clear in these chapters about what kept them from entering rest.
"And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient?
So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.
Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.
For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.
For we who have believed enter that rest." Hebrews 13:18-14:3
I feel like my heart has been craving rest. These verses freshly pointed out to me that it's available inside beleif. Entering God's rest and the promised land for us depends on Jesus, believing Him for salvation, but I also believe that inside this life, we can enter rest in our dependence. The Israelites disobedience hinged on belief. They weren't able to enter rest because of unbelief. God was leading them and providing for them daily, but they failed to reach where they were going because they refused to depend on God, they didn't trust Him.
We are also His chosen ones, and He wants to lead us daily. He wants our trust and our belief. Those are demonstrations of love. He desires our love. Rest waits for us inside trust. We just have to let go and sink into belief. We need to trust fall.
Most of us have held a baby trying to avoid sleep. My daughter, Kate, used to fight it with everything she had. Naptime was exhausting for her and me. She wouldn't just let go and relax. I think God gives us so many parallels in parenting, chances to see ourselves. He's been trying to get me to let go and relax, to lean into His arms and believe that He's got this. "This" can change daily, but His provision never does.
I want so desperately to please Him, and so many times I beleive He wants my works when He really wants my trust. He wants me to beleive Him. He wants me to travel through this life dependent on Him. The Bible tells us that He works out our sanctification. He completes the work in us. He gives us everything we need for life and holiness. He works in us, He equips us, and He will carry us to completion. We receive and obey. (2 Timothy 1:9, Philippians 2:13, Ephesians 2:10, Hebrews 13:21, Philippians 1:6).
There is a Sabbath rest for us. It's not just when we finally reach heaven. It's located also on earth inside our beleif. It isn't hidden, but some days it seems so hard to reach, doesn't it?
This is my declaration that I am reaching for rest, inside today and tomorrow. I don't want to miss the byproduct of belief.
"For whoever enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His.
Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience." Hebrews 4:10,11
I'm making every effort. Want to join me? It sounds good doesn't it.
It's my hope that this is more than an excuse for a nap today,
though I do recommend that too.
Hozzászólások