Rest.

Today in my quiet time I was reading Warren Wiersbe's book on Hebrews, and God showed me something profoundly simple. Yet it was also something so beautiful, and it changed the way I will think about true rest; that is, rest GOD'S way, forever!

In Hebrews 4, the author is talking about the rest that many of the Israelites missed because of their disobedience. He says that the generation later was able to enter this rest, this gift from God. Then the author talks about a rest that is coming, and that it is here "today". Here, Wiersbe explains that the author is referring to the complete rest we have with God through salvation in Jesus Christ. We have this rest NOW! Praise God!

Here comes the wonderful part that I learned :) Wiersbe refers to what Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-29... "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

In these verses, Wiersbe points out that Jesus talks to us specifically about two types of rest: the first type Wiersbe calls "salvation rest". This is the rest from verse 28 that we receive when we give Jesus the burden of our sin and receive salvation, which gives us complete peace before God. This is an amazing rest: an incredible gift.

The second type of rest Jesus gives is introduced in verse 29, and Wiersbe names this rest "submission rest". In my opinion, it's brilliantly named. This is the kind of rest we have when we are completely obedient to Jesus. In our attitudes, in our every decision (no matter how small), in our moment-by-moment living, when we are living the way Jesus intended for us to live, we are at peace. We have real, lasting rest. I have found this to be so true in my life. As a small example, when I do my homework with an attitude of thankfulness instead of one of overwhelming stress, I find myself at peace. When I choose to respond to a situation with Christ-like love instead of my instinct of selfishness, I find that I have rest in my heart the rest of the day. God showed me today that this is the rest of submitting to His will...This is the rest that comes from obedience to Jesus. And this rest is also unexplainable and truly wonderful! This truth turns the drudgery of day-to-day living (in a fast-past, over-stressed world) into a beautiful adventure that can be filled with peace. And it means that even when our lives enter into a raging storm, we can have peace knowing that when our attitudes are Christ-like and our hearts submissive, we will experience authentic rest and genuine peace in the midst of it.

I'm praising God for His grace that gave me rest in Him-a break from my sin, and I'm going to pray that each moment I will choose thankfulness and rest in complete obedience to my Savior!