Hebrews 4:9-10
Hebrews 4:9-10
So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.
It has not taken much of the July heat, to make me long for at least a little of the rain we experienced in May and June. I consider Birmingham a hidden secret as far as ease and joy of life is concerned, but make no mistake, even the most avid Birmingham native will seek escape in July and August. Whether it is beaches, mountains, or lakes, the Fourth of July holiday sees an exodus from the city to find respite from the heat and tedium of the day. More often than not, I am in those ranks, trying to time the drive so that traffic is somewhat manageable. However, this year we stayed put and rested at home within our daily life instead of on the road.
Rest is not to be confused with vacation. We can seek rest in our vacations, but we must battle against that attempt to cram lost years into five or six days. The expenditure of both time and treasure often obligates us to make the most of vacation, sapping our physical energy. Furthermore, vacations can often leave us more drained on a personal level, while leaving us hole to climb out from upon our return.
I am happy to report, that in the last week Bebe and I have both found peace and rest. We did not find this with complete leisure or inactivity, but in quiet, yet active, contemplation, in conversations on faith and God’s will in our lives, and in prayer. And while we kept up with the day-to-day needs of work and life, it was not the priority.
True rest can come in different shapes and sizes, needing to be custom fit for different personalities, but it must include the essential ingredient of quiet. Not necessarily the quiet of silence, but the quietness of mind that makes you itchy to pick up your phone to escape the discomfort of introspection. However, if we can resist the urge to divert away from the quietness, to allow ourselves the moment – no emails, no text, no Instagram, no to-do list, no Netflix, no beach novels. Sit with yourself, pray, sit some more, listen. Allow for a spiritual moment, because the Holy Spirit is in fact there in the quiet with you.
In that quiet, the truth of the gospel becomes much clearer without the debris of life obscuring it. We must remember that Christ not only redefined the Sabbath to be outside the law, something created for man (Mark 2:23-3:6), but he also defined himself as the Sabbath, as our rest (Matt 11:28-30). Through our faith in Christ, we know his power and his love. We know the peace and joy he provides, so take time to seek it on the spiritual level.
It is in moments of spiritual rest, when we can re-establish ourselves firmly in Christ. Where in Him, we can fill our hearts with the confidence of faith to meet the challenges of life with courage instead of fear. We can bear the hurtful actions of friends and family with compassion, instead of blame. We can bear grief without hopelessness. We can appreciate the means of grace as gifts instead of obligations.
Finally, be deliberate; enter rest with purpose. Recognize that the patterns of our lives will constantly be busy and distracted. Therefore, put it onto the calendar and prioritize not just rest, but deep spiritual rest in Christ. Doing so will not take away from your schedule; instead, you will find the tools to live your schedule.
Your brother in Christ,
Thomas Goodrich
