God's Rest

A life of faith (in Jesus Christ) and obedience (to God and His Word) brings rest. On the contrary, a life of unbelief and disobedience prevents one from entering God's rest. Hebrews 4 warns Christians to learn from the Israelite's mistake. Many of them did not get to enter God's rest (the Promised Land) because of their unbelief and disobedience. Those who do not believe in the Gospel, harden their hearts, and refuse to trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior shall not enter God's rest. "The use of the term sabbatismos (“Sabbath-rest”) suggests that the weekly sabbath given to Israel is only a shadow of the true rest of God." (Ray Stedman) This rest is available only for God's people (both Jew and Gentile believers). God offers it. Take it. We who are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ shall enter God's rest since we do not rely on our own works to earn God's favor, but we rest securely and solely on Christ's finished work of redemption on the cross. We also rest from striving on our own strength (walking in the flesh) to live up to God's standards. Instead, we now walk by faith in the power of the Holy Spirit, being equipped to live a godly life. And some day, we, Christ's followers, will enjoy the eternal rest in Heaven. True rest is not a day; it's a Person, Jesus Christ. "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29) Jesus invites us to simply rest in Him, the Lord of the Sabbath, the Prince of Peace. Rest in God's faithful promises. Rest in God's amazing, inexhaustible grace and mercy. Rest in God's sovereignty (He's always in control). Rest in God's mighty power (nothing is impossible with God). My M.O. in life is I pray; I trust; I rest.

I believe that this passage also serves as a warning for Hebrew Christians (and us) not to fall into Judaism or any legalistic version of Christianity. "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1) We are now under grace, no longer under the Law. Rest in the freedom we have in Christ. It doesn't mean we can do whatever we want; rather, it means we are free from flesh/sin to do what God wants. Through our faith accompanied by obedience (fruit of our faith), our soul is at rest in Christ Whom we abide.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for being my Refuge and Shelter! How sweet it is to be able to rest in Your loving, everlasting arms. Thank You for Your inexhaustible grace that carries me through any storms of life. Please empower me to daily walk by faith and walk in obedience.

A Rest Remaineth for the Weary
by Johann S Kunth

A rest remaineth for the weary;
Arise, sad heart, and grieve no more;
Though long the way, and dark and dreary,
It endeth on the golden shore.
Before His throne the Lamb will lead thee,
On heav’nly pastures He will feed thee,
Cast off thy burden, come with haste;
Soon will the toil and strife be ended,
The weary way which thou hast wended.
Sweet is the rest which thou shalt taste.

The Father’s house has many a dwelling,
And there will be a place for thee.
With perfect love His heart is welling
Who loved thee from eternity.
His precious blood the Lamb hath given
That thou might’st share the joys of Heaven,
And now He calleth far and near:
“Ye weary souls, cease your repining,
Come while for you My light is shining;
Come, sweetest rest awaits you here!”

O come, come all, ye weak and weary,
Ye souls bowed down with many a care;
Arise and leave your dungeons dreary
And listen to His promise fair:
“Ye bore your burdens meek and lowly,
I will fulfill My pledge most holy,
I’ll be your solace and your rest.
Ye are Mine own, I will requite you;
Though sin and Satan seek to smite you,
Rejoice! Your home is with the blest.”

There rest and peace in endless measure
Shall be ours through eternity;
No grief, no care, shall mar our pleasure,
And untold bliss our lot shall be.
Oh, had we wings to hasten yonder—
No more o’er earthly ills to ponder—
To join the glad, triumphant band!
Make haste, my soul, forget all sadness;
For peace awaits thee, joy and gladness—
The perfect rest is nigh at hand.

Forgive Everyone About Everything

We are to bear with each other/to tolerate/to patiently endure one another's weaknesses, idiosyncrasies, imperfections, and offenses. Extend God's grace and mercy to others. Try to be understanding and overlook offenses. Do good and be kind to everyone, including those who are mean and unkind to us. "Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing." (1 Peter 3:8-9)To forgive others is to imitate Christ. Choose to forgive, instead of complaining, blaming, quarreling, holding grudges, or retaliating. "When they hurled their insults at Him--He did not retaliate; when He suffered--He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly." (1 Peter 2:23) 

"None of us can live long in the thick of life--and not sometimes be touched rudely, perhaps even cruelly, by others. How shall we endure the things which hurt and wound us? We know what Jesus would do, what He actually did. "When they hurled their insults at Him--He did not retaliate; when He suffered--He made no threats. "They drove the nails into His gentle hands, and as the iron went crashing through His tender flesh He prayed, "Father, forgive them!" They hung Him on the cross--but in answer to that cruelty, instead of a withering curse upon the world, He wrought salvation there for men!" (J.R. Miller)

"Whenever I see myself before God and realize something of what my blessed Lord has done for me at Calvary, I am ready to forgive anybody anything. I cannot withhold it. I do not even want to withhold it." (Martin Lloyd Jones) 

"The person who is living by grace sees this vast contrast between his own sins against God and the offenses of others against him. He forgives others because he himself has been so graciously forgiven. He realizes that, by receiving God's forgiveness through Christ, he has forfeited the right to be offended when others hurt him." (Jerry Bridges)

We must forgive indefinitely (according to Matthew 18:21-22). Love "keeps no record of wrongs!" (1 Corinthians 13:5b) We must forgive those who offend/wrong/hurt us as the Lord forgave us. That means no keeping track of offenses. It means seeking no revenge and having no resentment. A forgiven child of God operates by the principles of love and grace. It's unthinkable for us to seek God's forgiveness while withholding forgiveness. A forgiven person should be a forgiving person. Be merciful as your Heavenly Father is. Reflect Christ in all your interactions with everyone, including those who have wronged you. You're freely and fully forgiven by God. Now go and do likewise. "Freely you have received; freely give." ~Jesus (Matthew 10:8b)

When we have a hard time forgiving others, let's consider how much God has forgiven us. Countless times, right? Compared to the extent and degree of offenses we've committed against God, whatever offenses done to us by others are puny. Yet, we have trouble forgiving them. True forgiveness from the heart is not easy, especially if the same offender keeps repeating the same offense over and over again. We need the Holy Spirit's help to enable us to offer forgiveness over and over again. May we treat others with the measureless grace and mercy that God has poured out upon us! Live forgiven and live to forgive readily!

Some may say that we are to forgive only those who repent and ask for forgiveness. I personally believe our forgiveness should not only be unlimited but also unconditional. It's for our own good (health and peace of mind) and it's for God's glory. God wants us to forgive everyone (including ourselves...sometimes that's the hardest thing to do) about everything, regardless of whether the offender acknowledges his/her wrongdoing or asks for forgiveness or not. "Forgiveness doesn't excuse their behavior. Forgiveness prevents their behavior from destroying our heart." (Unknown) "To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you." (Lewis B. Smedes) "We don't forgive people because they deserve it. We forgive them because they need it--because we need it." (Bree Despain) There is freedom that comes through forgiving others! When we choose to/are willing to forgive, we move away from the hurts towards the healing.

"Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hate. It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness." (Corrie ten Boom) 

Unforgiveness/bitterness/resentment is a hindrance to our prayers and our intimate fellowship with God. If we don't forgive, we disobey God and suffer consequences. "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you.

But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." (Matthew 6:14-15)

"If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer." (Psalm 66:18-19) Yes, unforgiveness is sin! 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I can never thank You enough for Your inexhaustible grace and forgiveness for me! Please enable me to readily forgive others and myself as You have forgiven me. Please help me always see people through eyes of grace and mercy. Please empower me to love and forgive others like Jesus. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.

Taste and See

This is an invite to know, trust, and experience God personally. The promise is that you will discover that the Lord is good. He is good all the time, even in difficult times (as David was facing). Once you have tasted God's goodness, your life will never be the same! Knowing about God is not the same as knowing God. Hearing that God is good is not the same as experiencing yourself how good God is. I myself can definitely testify to God's goodness. My life's experiences have shown evidences that God is good, kind, loving, and faithful. "You, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness." (Psalm 86:15) He is beyond awesome! It is so sweet to trust in Jesus, to follow Jesus, to rest in Jesus, and to live for Jesus! It is indeed sweet to be loved, redeemed, forgiven, freed, treasured, healed, delivered, and heard by Almighty God. It is incredibly sweet to be able to approach God's throne of grace with confidence (in prayer), to feast upon His Word, to serve the King of kings, to do His kingdom's work alongside brothers and sisters in Christ, to have incorruptible inheritance, and to enjoy eternal life with Christ in Heaven. "Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men!" (Psalm 31:19 NKJV)

Those who take refuge in Jesus Christ are blessed/happy. "Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in You." (Psalm 84:12) "How priceless is Your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of Your house; You give them drink from Your river of delights." (Psalm 36:7-8) When life hands you lemons, give the lemons to God and He will make lemonade for you. Take heart! God can give you sweetness even in the midst of sour circumstances. Keep your eyes open for God's sweet surprises in your life! Life is sweet because of Christ. 

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your goodness and faithfulness! Jesus, You're the sweetest Name of all! I'm so very blessed. Please help me be content and happy in You always. Please show me how I may persuade others to come taste and see that You are good. Please empower me to do good to all, reflecting Your love, grace, goodness, and kindness.

Trust in the Lord

Trust in the Lord! He is always trustworthy, faithful, and unchangeable. His Word is forever true. His love is perfect. He is good all the time. Trust is a choice, not a feeling. "Trust" encompasses allegiance & submission, confidence & conviction, expectation & hope, faith & reliance.

God wants us to trust Him with all our heart (wholehearted commitment)! Total trust and complete confidence in God lead to perfect peace! "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal." (Isaiah 26:3-4) Do you trust God to meet all of your needs? Do you trust God when you're afraid, afflicted, confused, or overwhelmed? Do you trust God when your health is failing, your heart is hurting, or your loved ones are dying? Trust God at all times...in good times and in bad times. Even when you don't see God's hand, trust His heart.  

Do not lean (depend) on your own understanding (limited, unreliable human understanding which usually operates in ignorance without God's counsel). Remember that God sees the whole picture while we only see what's here and now. Lean on Him and His infinite wisdom. Moreover, He is the One who has all the power and strength to help us.

Acknowledge Him in all your ways. Do we recognize His presence, guidance, and grace in our everyday lives? Do we gratefully acknowledge His grace, mercy, and blessings as we receive them? Give God all the glory. Acknowledge that all we have come from Him. "Remember that, as sinful creatures, being criminals and traitors--we have no 'rights'. Consequently, everything short of hell--is a mercy! Everything but eternal punishment--is a favor! How many favors and mercies you receive--and how few praises you render! How many mercies are given you--and how few acknowledgments you make!" (James Smith)

He will make your paths straight. It doesn't say, "He will make your paths easy or smooth" :). God loves us and wants the best for our lives. He knows the best way to accomplish His plan and purpose for our lives. He will direct our paths. God will guide us to make the right decisions as we trust Him, submit to Him, and acknowledge Him.
"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun." (Psalm 37:5)
"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans." (Proverbs 16:3)

One of God's Names is Yahweh (The Lord, I Am). He is the only one, true, living God who is all we ever need. In the Bible, names are very important. They often reflect the characteristic attributes or background about the persons. Even more so, God reveals His character/His nature by referring to Himself by different Names. He wants us to know and understand Who He is, what He does, and how we should relate to Him. Knowing the names and attributes of God helps us face any problems in life with hope and confidence. If you want to know God more and understand His heart better, I encourage you to study and reflect on the names of God. It will enrich your understanding of Who God is, strengthen your faith in Him, and deepen your relationship with Him. As a result, it will be easier for you to trust Him and rely on Him. The more we know the Lord, the more confidence we will have in His Word, His promises, and His faithfulness. We can always trust God because we know that He is completely and consistently trustworthy, faithful, and loving. "'Because he loves Me,' says the Lord, 'I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges My Name. He will call on Me, and I will answer him.; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.'" (Psalm 91:14-15)

God has never forsaken/abandoned those who seek Him and He never will. God is always present with us even when we don't feel His presence. "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6) Whenever God's Word says, "Do not be afraid", it often includes the promise of God's presence ("...For I am with you"). Such a caring & comforting promise!

Prayer: Lord, thank You for being my mighty Rock and Fortress Whom I can always rely upon and trust in! Thank You for being my Shelter and Refuge in Whom I can always find rest! Please help me lean not on my own understanding and strength but on Your perfect wisdom and strength. When I am afraid or worried, please help me lay all my burdens down at Your feet and trust You totally. Thank You for never forsaking me! Your presence gives me comfort and joy, peace and courage. Lead me, Lord, to do Your will each day. May my life honor & glorify You and magnify Your Name!  

"If we can trust God for our eternal salvation, how can we not trust Him to provide for the 'little' things of life?" (M.E.Howard)

Fight the Good Fight

"But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses." (1 Timothy 6:11-12 NIV)

These action-packed verses are a command and calling to change the direction. We, children of God, are to flee from false teaching/doctrine, pride/conceit, unhealthy obsession with disputes/ controversies and arguments/quarrels, envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions, useless friction, corruption, ungodliness, greed and love of money (see 1 Timothy 6:3-10). Flee. Run away. Avoid deliberately and habitually. Don't try to rationalize or justify. Don't partake. We must make a conscious decision to continually shun these enticements/subtle dangers because they continually seek to contaminate our soul and spirit. Remember that money itself is not evil. The love of money is. Money is one of necessary things in life which can test our integrity and our devotion to God.

We are to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience/endurance, and gentleness. All these virtues don't happen automatically just because we are children of God. Spiritual growth requires a determined choice and effort (enabled by God's Holy Spirit and grace). We must earnestly and zealously go after these godly virtues. "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." (2 Peter 1:3) Yes, it is a beautiful interplay of human's responsibility and God's sovereignty.

Pursue Righteousness--We have been made positionally righteous in Christ because God puts our sin on Christ who died on the cross for our punishment and Christ's righteousness is imputed to us. Having been saved and justified (declared righteous) by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, we Christians are commanded to be practically righteous/to pursue righteousness (right behavior before God and men) in our daily lives. This is also known as progressive sanctification. It's not about perfection; it's about the direction of one's life.

Pursue Godliness (eusebeia in Greek, most literally meaning "well worship")--Do what pleases God! The essence of well worship is saying ''No'' to our flesh and saying ''Yes'' to God.

"Godliness leads a man to love God, and to serve God; it brings the fear of God before his eyes, and the love of God into his heart." (Charles Spurgeon)

Pursue Faith (faithfulness, conviction, faith accompanied by action)--Keep trusting God in all circumstances, through trials and difficulties. Submit to God completely and seek Him daily. 

Pursue Love (agape)--Love everyone (including the unlovable like enemies) unconditionally, selflessly, and sacrificially. Christlike love is a lifelong pursuit. Each day is an opportunity for us to learn to love better...to love like Jesus more and more. Keep putting agape into action!

Pursue Patience--We need to have patience, steadfastness, and endurance. We are to bear up under difficult circumstances and look beyond current hardship. "If we endure, we shall also reign with Him." (2 Timothy 2:12a)

Pursue Gentleness (meekness, calm disposition, strength under control)--Be humble and gentle (even to those who oppose, provoke, or insult you). It's the opposite of being out-of-control angry and arrogant, harsh and mean.

Fight the good fight of faith--A life of faith is a battle against the world, the flesh, and the devil. Spiritual warfare is real. Put on the full armor of God (see Ephesians 6:11-17). "Above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one." (Ephesians 6:16) Stand firm in the faith and stand up boldly for God's truths and sound doctrine. Study apologetics and learn how to effectively share why you believe what you believe. Don't be afraid to expose false teachers' errors. Don't let fear of men (fear of being accused judgmental or unloving or prideful) stop you from doing what's right and loving in God's eyes and speaking the truth in love (with grace and gentleness).

Last, but not least, take hold of the eternal life which God has graciously given to us. Remember that eternal life is a gift from God and take a firm grip on it. Never lose sight of it. Fix your mind on things above (eternal things), not on earthly things. Live each day in the light of eternity for God's glory and kingdom!

To be men and women of God, we must resolve to stand against the tide. We must flee worldliness, pursue holiness, flee sin, pursue virtue, fight for the faith, and take hold of eternal life.

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for saving me, giving me eternal life, transforming me and sanctifying me! Please empower me to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness, and to flee worldliness and sin. Please give me courage, strength, and wisdom to bravely fight the good fight of faith with perseverance. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.

"Every step along the path of life, is a battle for the Christian to keep the eyes of the heart on Jesus." (John Newton)

"You cannot be a pacifist in the spiritual battle!" (Greg Laurie)