Bloggers Note:
Yes. It’s been too long since I wrote a blog post.
No, I’m not promising to get back on to a regular posting schedule, but I sure hope that happens!
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I’m currently reading through the book of Hebrews (which happens to be one of my favorite books of the Bible). I always especially love when I get to about chapter 4 because it gives such beautiful pictures of what it means to draw near to God and rest in His presence.
This week as I read through that chapter again, this passage struck me in a new way:
“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.” (Hebrews 4:9-10)
Because of my perfectionistic tendencies, one of my biggest temptations in life is to try to do things in my own strength or wisdom, (which are not really strength nor wisdom at all) instead of trusting God. As I read this verse, that is referring to God resting on the 7th day of creation and inviting us into that rest, I was reminded of God’s call to give up striving. As it talks about the one who has “entered God’s rest” it goes on to say that those are the people who have rested from their works.
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing,; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9
And here we are back to grace.
We truly enter the rest of God when we give up the works and trust the grace. It seems easier to try on my own. Easier to keep on striving and mark off all the check boxes and try to do things my own way. But how beautiful the peace when we simply stand in GRACE and let Christ’s works be enough, because unlike mine, they actually are!
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace…” (Hebrews 4:16)
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