We are
driven in today's society to have, to achieve, to acquire and to work toward
prizes, which turn out to be nothing more than an empty box or trivial pursuits
that never satisfy us.
Yet, for
some reason, we continue to seek after that illusive prize that will make us
truly happy and fulfilled. We look for the mate that will complete us, and the
vocation, house and car which will give us status.
We buy a
bigger television, more electronic toys, more lights to hang for Christmas than
our neighbor did last year; and yet, they leave us flat-lining and they put our
soul in the "hospital".
Our soul
continually cries out for rest, peace and lasting joy and fulfillment. We do
not really want to respond to the drive to earn more in order to buy more; but
we cannot seem to help our self.
Like the
Israelites, our disobedience and prideful, rebellious heart prevent us from
entering God's rest (Hebrews 3:11). We live our whole life and fall short of
entering His rest (Hebrews 4:1).
God gives us
a clue during His days of creation by resting on the seventh day after six full
nights and days of speaking the cosmos into existence. He calls us to join Him
in that rest, so that He can restore our soul (Psalm 23:2-3).
If we
respond, we will enjoy true riches for the rest of our life, because we will
prosper even as our soul prospers (3 John 1:2). As we believe God, we receive all
that He provides for us, and we have the faith to enter into His promised rest.
Prayer:
Father God,
help us to cease from striving to enter your rest through the power of our
flesh in a futile exercise to attain holiness (Romans 7-8; Galatians 3:1-3).
Remind us to enter Your rest and to allow Your Spirit to work in us to attain
that Godly life You offer (Romans 8:10-17).
Through Your
Word, we clearly see that as we abide in You, and allow Your Spirit to do His transforming work in our nature and
character, we will see Your fruitfulness in our life (John 15:1-14; Galatians
5:22-23). Give us the faith of Your dear Son, Jesus, to enter into Your rest
now and forever (Hebrews 4:2; Genesis 2:2)
Thought for
the Day:
Once we
finally recognize our insufficiency to accomplish the works in our own
strength, which God pre-ordained for us to do, we surrender our life in
whole-hearted obedience to Christ and enter into His rest.
- Ephesians 2:10:
Hebrews 4:1-10
