Courageous Humility Pt. 1Sample

The phrase standing out in this passage being: For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors… All have rested from their labors. All labors? Right clicking to see the synonyms for that word labors reveals: efforts, pains, hard work, works and toils – to name a few. Do we feel like we are resting from our efforts and hard work? This phrase indicates we should be. But this passage indicates something else: Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts. When we HEAR His voice, we are encouraged to not harden our hearts. 

Is this where our rest lies? Relinquishing our efforts and toils daily? Not just enjoying lunch after Sunday service, followed by a siesta? Might God be asking us to fully rest in Him, allowing Him to moment by moment, hour by hour, day by day, direct our steps and actions, by His Spirit, through our thoughts, will and emotions? Does this seem contrary to what we’ve been taught? Does this seem impossible to imagine or even think of living out? Just as Jesus Christ made a way for us to enter boldly into the presence of God, He has also made a way to enter a special place of rest. Are we willing to courageously allow Him to show us what His rest looks like in our lives? Will we rest? 

Prayer: God, You know the rest You speak of in Hebrews. Help us to have ears to hear what You intended to share with us through these words. Lord, just as rest and sleep restore the system of the body, strengthens the immune system and improves heart health, allow us to rest in You. Where You provide healing and health in our spirits, reinforcing our immunity to resist the tactics of the enemy. Thank You for preparing a special place of rest for Your Bride to enter and dwell, which is with You. Help us to stow away from society’s message to be busy and do more in our own strength, and find peace knowing we desire to obey You and not harden our hearts to Your voice, and what You may be speaking to us. In Jesus Christ’s Name we pray, amen.