Rest in Jesus

The Christian life is undoubtedly hard work, but it's by faith that we are justified

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Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest... (Hebrews 4:11 NIV)

I have often wondered how to understand this apparent paradox. The King James version renders it: 'Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest...'  And the ESV uses the word 'strive'.  All of these translations of the greek word 'spoudazo' seem to be the opposite of the concept of resting.

Perhaps we have an example these days as we have witnessed athletes pushing themselves to new levels of exertion and focus, but then resting in the satisfaction that they did their best.  

Entering into the Sabbath-rest that God offers also requires effort, determination, discipline and sheer hard work, yet the truth is that no amount of striving and self-motivation can earn us a place in God's Kingdom. Only faith in the grace offered through the work of Jesus Christ will do that.

Hebrews chapter 4, written to early Hebrew Christians, tells the story of earlier Hebrew people who failed to enter into that rest, the promised land, because of their disobedience. The nature of the disobedience is clearly stated as unbelief. Unbelief caused a whole generation of people to die in the wilderness. Only two men, Joshua and Caleb, believed God's promise and crossed the Jordan to take possession of the land. The difference was not how hard they worked but their faith. In the same book we are told that without faith it is impossible to please God, and that God rewards those who seek Him.

dailyverses.net

When the people asked Jesus how to do the work that God requires he answered: "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” The Christian life is undoubtedly hard work, but it's by faith that we are justified (put right before God), and it's faith that gives us peace of mind - rest.

Jesus gave an invitation to the common people:  

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Here is another paradox! We find soul rest by taking on another burden, the yoke that Jesus has for us. A yoke is a crossbar shaped to fit over the shoulders and lifted to efficiently carry heavy weights. Using the wrong shaped yoke is painful and counter-productive, but the yoke that Jesus has for us brings joy, comfort and peace to every task, however difficult, menial or arduous.

Life can be tough, but the Lord offers His people rest even in the midst of activity.  Through faith in Jesus we can enjoy being in God's presence now, and we will one day share in the everlasting joy that God entered when He rested on the seventh day.

Author: John Plumb

May God bless and enrich your life

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