Make an Effort to Rest?

In Daily Devotional by Marc Brûlé

Theme of the Week: Strength in the Lord

Bible Verse: “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.” Hebrews 4:9–11

Scripture Reading: Exodus 20:8-10

There is a quality of life that is described in the Bible as a Sabbath-rest. It is something we are invited into, something we are offered. We are challenged to “make every effort to enter that rest.”

That sounds like a contradiction. Make an effort to rest? What??? It’s like telling a hyper child to try to go to sleep!

This ‘rest’ is not inactivity. It is not a state of idleness. What is it? Verse ten says that we rest from our works, just as God did from His. God had full confidence that what He had said and done would stand firm. We must also have full confidence that what God has said and done will stand. This is especially true of His promises in helping us become like Jesus.

We rest from our own works because we rest in His. We lean into His strength. Our work comes from His rest. Our capacity to work should come from having rested in God’s work, from our abiding in Christ, from His strength and not our own.

Put your effort into your relationship with God, then He can give you the strength to live for Him.

Prayer: God, I thank you that we can rest in Jesus. May we make every effort to know what I means to trust and abide in Him.

Reflection: Do you know what it means to have sabbath rest?


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About
Marc Brûlé
Marc Brûlé has been the Pastor of WellSpring Community Church since 1986. Marc was a former Board member and the National Worship Director for Impactus | Promise Keepers Canada. He is energized by seeing people experience God in a genuine way.
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Marc Brûlé
Marc Brûlé has been the Pastor of WellSpring Community Church since 1986. Marc was a former Board member and the National Worship Director for Impactus | Promise Keepers Canada. He is energized by seeing people experience God in a genuine way.