God Has Spoken... Rest!

I was teaching a Sunday morning lesson on the power of Jesus on our behalf, explaining what it meant that Jesus has accomplished all the work of salvation and has rested from the work. Our response to his success is to rest!

As I was expounding on this, I made note of the following verse from Hebrews:

"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 4:12

The point I was making is that when you hear the declaration of Christ's success on our behalf, it exposes just what we are clinging to. Does the call to rest and trust scare you? If so, you are probably going to throw up a few "just in case" prayers or works to get in tight with God "just in case" what Jesus did and who He is isn't enough.

The word of God's passion for sinners exposes our perceptions of Him and creates a crisis for us. What (or who) are we going to believe about God? Are we going to accept a relationship with God on God's terms or on ours? What are God's terms? Rest and let Him love you!

What are your terms? Maybe a whole lot of praying, or a chicken sacrifice, or a holding your spiritual tongue just right. Maybe you feel more secure holding onto your sinner's prayer, repentance and your commitment to follow Jesus and be a "Good Christian".

The fact that God has spoken in Jesus and He is faithful (Heb. 10:23), is a summons to trust and rest from our works of righteousness. Abandon whatever you are doing to get God to accept you and trust that He already has. Walk away from your endless attempts to gain forgiveness and accept that before you even sinned, you were already forgiven.

That may be scary for you, but let the scalpel of God's declaration of love for you do its surgery and release you from fear. A life of trust is a free life. A life of fear is bondage.

Side Note: Sometimes the word of God is threatening like a sword. When I taught this, a religious type that had been on me for not teaching enough holiness challenged me.

"Don't you think this verse is talking about the bible, the inspired cannon of scriptures?" The withering look of shame on his face directed at me let me know he felt the sting of the sword. He clutched tightly to his BIG black bible and was ready to pounce.

"No, I don't think it's talking about the inspired cannon. Mainly because you can't read that verse in its context and arrive at that interpretation AND the cannon wasn't established until 300 plus years later." I answered the question and he didn't like it. He still accuses me of not believing in the bible but the fact is I just don't believe in the bible as he interprets it, which is nothing more than a rule book and text book on how to get in tight with God.

God has spoken in Jesus.... Rest!

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Mark Simpson, LMFT
LifeChange Counseling Centers
www.lifechangedaily.com