The Season of Rest

Monday Morning Commentary

This time of year, we tend to lose sight of what matters most. We think provision comes from work, but it doesn’t. Often we establish our identity by overextending ourselves trying to please people. The word of God tells us that the foundation of our faith is to first rest in Christ. 

Hebrews 4:9 - So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 

Matthew 11:28 - Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. 

There is another word that is a form of rest or to cease Sabbath. The Sabbath day that was established for three major reasons: 

To remind us that God is the point of our lives 

To remind us that God is the provider of our lives. 

To remind them that God was the Savior of their lives 

The emphasis is not as much about literally not doing anything or remaining completely inactive on this day. It is a day to be set apart for a special purpose- ceasing from work to make a declaration that God is the provider of all things. The Sabbath is for rest, renewal, and relationships, tithing, and sleep. 

Hebrews 4:8-10 - For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains, therefore, a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. 

If God delivered the Israelites by Himself, will He not do the same for our day to day needs? Will our God not deliver us from our worry, our doubt, our concerns? Christ is everything we need Him to be: 

He is our righteousness. 

He is my identity 

He is my security 

Psalm 127:1-2 - Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep. 

No task succeeds apart from God’s will. We toil in vain if we do not rest and recognize the work of the Lord. This week, understand that He can take the weight. Understand that the burdens we carry, are not our own to bear. Find that time, find that place to rest.