Resting...

Last night we covered a chapter entitled "Rest" during our Wednesday night Bible Study. Rest is no doubt something that many of us like to hear and many of us like to do. However, many times we get so caught up in the grind of life that we do not rest at all.

The focus of resting as we looked at it last night was that of resting in what we have and who we are in Christ. Labor is involved. Labor involves searching out God's Word to know these things, memorizing Scripture, going before the Lord in prayer, going to church to be taught God's Word, and fellowshipping with other believers, just to name a few. While we may not think of these things as labor, the idea is that these are things that we are doing. Labor involves finding the truth from God's Word, but the application of these truths in our lives involves resting in these truths, depending on God.

When I asked the kids what they thought of when they thought of rest, Rick said, "You're not doing anything". Bingo! When we are resting in what God has provided for us, we are looking to Him to produce the life of Christ in us. Resting doesn't mean we don't make decisions, or we don't physically do anything. Resting means we are dependent upon someone else to produce in us what only He can produce. This process takes time, many times this takes many years. But as we are continuing to do our part in the labor process of focusing upon God, He will give us rest as He produces the life of Christ in us.

One day when we stand before the Bema Seat, we will receive rewards for the works we have done that bring glory to God. Unfortunately many Christians are trying really hard to do a whole lot of things for God and they are weary. God desires for us to rest in His provision. The only works or acts that we will receive rewards for are those works or acts that were produced as the believer allowed Christ to do it through him/her. It is the righteousness of Christ not our righteousness that will produce these things. We must yield our wills to Him.

Stanford ends this chapter by saying, "Let us take Him at His Word, and leave the fulfillment of it to Him." Rest in His provision!