Rest and the Work of God

Hebrews 4:9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. ¹⁰ For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. ¹¹ Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.

Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,

I have a lot of trouble understanding grace and being diligent or laboring to enter His rest. I won't get in to all the reasons, but it is difficult for me at times to remember that I can sit back and rest. With the Lord I do not lose His love if I fail to obey all the rules, to memorize Scripture, to read the bible, to write devotionals, or to serve at church... There really and truly is nothing I can do to make God love me more or less.  There is nothing I can do that will surprise Him.  He does not see me as I see myself...in my sinful humanity...He sees me as I will be in my glorified state.(Romans 8:29-30) And He wants me to rest in Him! The promise is sure to the one who simply believes God. My hope is in Him and He is an anchor to my soul.  Biblical hope is unlike hope as we think of hope here on earth...biblical hope is sure and certain...like it already happened. It truly is hard for me to wrap my mind around that one.

So before I open up His word in the morning, or as I go about my day...or maybe as I feel my shoulders tense up or am reminded of a situation or circumstance in my life that concerns me or am immersed in a trial and feel the temptation to try to fix it in my own strength I remember this.  I am His. He is good, faithful, kind, gentle and He does all He does in my life for His glory and my good.  I remember that I am exactly where He wants me to be at this moment. I remember that His plan for me comes from His heart of love.  I remember that He will be faithful to complete the good work He started in me.  I remember my sure and certain hope and that there is nothing I can do or have to do to earn His favor.  Jesus has done it all...My salvation, my sanctification is not dependent on me but on who He is and what He has already done.  I remember that  God doesn't need a reason to bless me...He just does. That in itself is amazing...  I am then overwhelmed with Him.  I revel in the love He has for me...in the care and the concern and in the many many blessings He has given me...I relax...tears come into my eyes and I remember He has got it all covered...I can rest.

Love
Mom