…There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his (Hebrews 4:9,10).
I used to think this verse and entire chapter of Hebrews had to do with resting on Sunday. But today as I read the verse I believe the Lord opened my eyes to the real meaning– a much bigger and deeper meaning than my first commentary.
It might be a “duh!” moment for you. You might have known this meaning, but if so, please bear with me and pray for this truth to go deep into our hearts.
This is it:
There is nothing we can do to earn God’s love.
He wants us to rest in His love.
He doesn’t love Billy Graham any more than he loves a dying orphan in Africa or a convicted murderer who has given his life to Jesus.
We cannot earn His love.
We cannot read our Bibles enough, pray more, fast more, heal people, preach and teach, share and care enough. Nothing makes Him love us more or less.
His love never changes. His love never wavers or ebbs and flows.
Our ability to feel it may ebb and flow. But His love is constant. His grace is always there.
The Law was set up to earn God’s love. But Jesus came. And His Law is Love. His Law was: rest in the Love of God.
We are to simply rest in the love of God given through Jesus. Jesus did the work.
I think a mental picture of this “rest” is like a hammock. In order to rest in the hammock, you have to climb into it trusting it will hold your weight. Hammocks look flimsy and unsecure. But when you lie down, the hammock fits perfectly to your body shape. I molds around your frame as you sink into it’s knotted roped bed.
But we will never experience the rest the hammock offers if we don’t trust it’s strength.
As we head into the weekend, this Sunday or Saturday (whichever day you try to make your Sabbath) while you are resting, I hope you will meditate on God’s love for you.
We can’t earn it.
We must rest in it!
How would this change your life?
Much love,
andy
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