Welcome to “Going Deeper with the Word.” In this segment, we welcome people of all backgrounds, religious or not, to review the Word of God. The Word of God provides guidance, direction, and instructions for living our lives and walking with God.
Today, we examine how God’s Word provides clear guidance and direction about finding God’s rest in our lives
Let’s review examples of God’s Word that can lead and guide our steps and back up the principles we learned in today’s message. I will be reading scripture today from the Amplified Bible.
If you are watching this message online, we invite you to share your comments as we review each verse.
Here is our first verse.
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation].
Matthew 11:28
In this verse, Jesus clearly states that we can find rest in Him. We may find in our lives that busyness is the norm, but this will eventually lead to fatigue and weariness. In this verse, we are reminded that we can find true rest in Christ through salvation.
Question: Can you recall a time that you believed putting work first before your faith was necessary? What were the circumstances? If you were to put your faith first, how would you approach a similar situation in the future?
Let’s have a look at another verse.
It is vain for you to rise early,
To retire late,
To eat the bread of anxious labors—
For He gives [blessings] to His beloved even in his sleep.
Psalm 127:2
This verse, from King David, speaks directly to the busyness we have been discussing today. He clearly calls out the pattern of long days and working through worry and angst. This verse encourages us by explaining that even in our sleep, God will bless us. This means we should not feel the need to have long days. Instead, we can place our trust in God’s guidance and direction as to how to go about our work day.
Question: Can you think of a time where you felt, without question, that you needed to put in long hours in order to accomplish your goals? What was at the root of this understanding? A deadline, anxiety, worry, or all of the above? How could you approach this situation differently by including God in the circumstances?
Let’s look at one last verse.
So there remains a [full and complete] Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has once entered His rest has also rested from [the weariness and pain of] his [human] labors, just as God rested from [those labors uniquely] His own. Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience [as those who died in the wilderness].
2 Timothy 3:16-17
In this verse, Paul brings to light a day of rest, the Sabbath rest. He points out that even the Lord rested. When we avoid or dismiss rest, it is a form of disobedience. By denying ourselves rest, we are tempted to think we don’t need rest, even though the Lord Himself rested. This can be a slippery slope that I admit I struggle with from time to time. We must remember that with God, we can have obligations and commitments that coexist with proper rest.
If we find ourselves resisting rest, it is an opportunity to bring our concerns before God, asking Him to enlighten us as to how to approach our circumstances while also ensuring we have proper rest, including resting in Him.
Question: What days of the week do you consider days of rest? On these days, what activities do you do to help you find peace, calm, and relaxation? What activities of faith are part of your days of rest?
When we are tempted to think we do not need rest, let us remember that even the Lord rested. Jesus walked the earth and healed by day, but He slept at night. Rest is not optional. Without it, our body and mind will suffer. Finding God’s rest by prioritizing Him and His influence in our lives is one of the best ways we can find peace. Seek out God’s rest in your life today!
Thank you for your time in reviewing these verses with me today. Please be sure to share in the comments how these or other examples of God’s Word have helped you find rest in God.
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Have an amazing week, and we will catch you next time.
Bless you.
