I Will Give You Rest
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
Beloved, I welcome you to a new week. Tell me, have you been busier than before the lockdown? The whole idea was to put a hold on something but interestingly a lot of people can do with some rest, including yours truly. We work round the clock thinking, strategizing, planning, designing, listening to online trainings and updates e.t.c. and have little or no time to rest. The stress has moved from the physical to the mental (which is riskier). Today, I want to remind you that you need to rest. Yes. God wants to take that worry, burden, stress, everything off you because He knows that you are not doing a good job at it. He loves you.
What is the meaning of ‘Rest’?
Online dictionary defined it as ‘cease work or movement in order to relax, sleep or recover strength’. It means to relax into something and let it support you. Rest is likened to sleep and most times when we talk about resting, we actually plan to sleep. Rest is synonymous to peace, serenity, tranquility, calmness, quiet. While you truly need to slow down and rest from your daily activities, the rest I will discuss with you today is slightly different. We will look at the rest that God is proposing to you and I. The one we truly need. God’s rest.
What is God’s Rest?
One of the greatest gifts God gave to us is the ability to rest. The bible states that God gives His beloved sleep in Psalm 127: 2 which reads, ‘It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows, for so He gives His beloved sleep’. The rest God is offering to us today is the assurance of peace in all circumstances. Irrespective of what you are going through right now (impact of Covid 19 inclusive), if you have God’s rest, you will rest assure that whatever it is will work out for your good at last. Romans 8:28 reminds us that ‘And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose’. Good and bad times happen to all but a mind at rest with God remains steadfast, unshaken and convinced of victory all the time. It pains me to see acclaimed Christians who live the opposite of God’s rest. They complain, scheme, plot evil against others, exhibit mood swings, unstable in their ways, so selfish yet they claim to be Christians. This is contrary to the lifestyle of the beloved. The bible described such people in a different way as shown in Isaiah 48:22, ‘There is no peace, says the Lord, for the wicked’. Likewise, Isaiah 57:20 says, ‘But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose water cast up mire and dirt’.
Why do we need God’s Rest?
The question should be, do you like the way the world is? The current circumstances and the previous were as a result of lack of God’s rest. Instability, evil, pain, sorrows and all are the products of war not rest or peace. So, we need God’s rest:
- To enjoy the gift of life God has given us. In our bid to make the most of life by our human understanding, we end up wasting the precious gift that we have- life. God’s rest helps us focus on and achieve the right things which brings peace, joy and fulfillment to us.
- To be able to fulfill our God-given mandate on earth. Without it, we can make all the money in this world and enjoy worldly things yet lack the inner peace that God’s rest brings. If we do not fulfill purpose, then we have lived in vain.
- To make progress in life. With God’s rest comes an exchange of labour for favour. The Holy Spirit takes over and grace makes everything about you work out. Some Christians complain that living the Christ like life is hard work but that is because they do it with their own strength. With God’s rest, The Holy Spirit takes over and enables you enjoy the relationship and gives you the ability to truly live like Christ which is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.
How can we get into God’s rest?
God’s rest is available to all who ask for it. The focal scripture makes it clear that for everyone that goes to God, He gives rest. You do this by:
- Repentance: Give your life to Jesus Christ (say the prayer below)
- Believe: Believe in God and grow in the faith through the study of the word of God. Psalm 119:165 says, ‘Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble’
- Friendship: Make friends with the third person of the Trinity- The Holy Spirit. Until you cultivate this relationship, you may not fully understand and enjoy the Christian walk.
- Obedience: We must obey God’s word and abide by it daily.
Beyond these benefits that God’s rest gives to us on earth, there is a greater benefit which comes with the final rest. Beloved, a lot of people believe different things about eternity but my bible makes it clear that there is a life after. This life after is more important and what you do now will determine how you will spend the life after. At death, there are two places to go as described by Jesus Christ in Matthew 25 verses 34 and 41 respectively. Verse 34 reads, ‘Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world’; verse 41 reads, ‘Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels’. Every day we have on earth is a gift and an opportunity to make things right with God. Final rest is either unto absolute peace or absolute torture. The lord desires for you to enjoy it in absolute peace. You can only do so if you have fulfilled His command in Romans 10:9-10, ‘If you confess with your mouth, the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation’.
God’s rest is the best. It is available for you to receive it. Will you reach out for it now that you have the time? Have you prayed the prayer of repentance below?
If you have not given your life to Jesus Christ, please bow your head and say this prayer, ‘Lord Jesus, I come in total humility and ask that You forgive me all my sins. I acknowledge that You died to save me from the power of sin and death. I accept you as my Lord and Saviour. I pray that You release the Holy Spirit of promise to guide me into all truth to enable me live a life pleasing to You every day of my life. All these I pray in Jesus Christ name, amen’.
Congratulations for your name has been transferred to the book of life. God bless you. If you need further help with your walk with God, do contact us with this email JesusShopperteam@gmail.com
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