May 1st
HIS REST (Introduction)
Scripture Reading : Hebrews 4
There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. (Hebrews 4:9)
From the beginning, the Sabbath clearly has profound significance with God. Genesis 2:1-3 reads, "Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made." The Sabbath is not only blessed but also sanctified or set apart because God rested in it from all His work.
What does it mean when it declares all the work finished? On the surface the word "work" means occupation or business. Yes, God was indeed taking care of the business of creation; however the root meaning of the word work is messenger, representative, or angel and brings The Word, Christ Jesus, instantly into focus. God said and Christ, the Word of God, was dispatched. John 1: 1-3 reads, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."
Fast forward to Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, and we come face to face with whom we are in Him and our purpose for being. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them_ Ephesians 2:10." The key here is walk in or live in the good works unto which we were created versus trying to work at what is already true of us in Christ. Fully believing in the Finished Work of Jesus Christ our Lord is our entry into the glorious rest that is blessed and sanctified for us by God.
Continued