I am pretty good at resting. Partly because after using all my social energy at work, I’m ready for some “me” time. This may include napping, eating, catching up on a number of TV series, mindlessly surfing facebook, or playing with my pup. Many times, I fail to spend time with God and read the Bible because I am “resting.” They require more effort than I feel like I can give.
Just my honesty here.
God is slowly revealing to me that paradoxically, putting forth my effort to read the Word and engage with Him, actually provides rest and satisfies me in a way that those other activities cannot. Mentally, I already knew this, but now God is showing me through experience and encountering this truth in a real way.
“Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:11-12
The following are action words associated with God’s Word: living, active, penetrates, judges. Although the initial decision to begin reading God’s word may be a result of my own effort, because the Bible operates in the supernatural way that it does, we are ushered into a place of peace and security that we can find nowhere else. And that is when it no longer is of our effort, but of God’s word becoming active in our minds and hearts.
Referring to “making every effort” (v. 11), my FireBible commentary states, “This kind of diligence is not a matter of striving in our own efforts because God’s rest is a state of depending on and responding to him, not a place of relying on our own abilities and efforts. It is a place of peace and security that is free from selfish pursuits and the insecurities that come from a lack of faith and obedience toward God. A large part of pressing on toward the heavenly goal involves reliance on God’s Word and devotion to prayer.”
The next verse is this:
“Nothing in creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (v.13)
There is freedom and rest when we are uncovered before God. When we are completely exposed and still completely accepted.
We do bad, but God continues to see us as BELOVED.
He is FOR us.
Finding my rest in Him today.
