The Greatest Rest

Isaiah 28:12

…’This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest, And, ‘This is the refreshing.’

 Everything about Jesus is restful. There is nothing hard or threatening about Him. The outcasts of society felt comfortable around Him; little children came to Him unafraid. (Luke 19:1-10, Luke 7: 36-50, Matthew 19:14) Those who were more conscious of Jesus’ grace than where they may have failed came and took from Him whatever they needed: forgiveness, healing, provision and rest.

A woman who broke the Law of Moses by being out in public whilst having a bleeding condition, sought Jesus out with hope and faith in His grace to heal her, and He did.  (Matthew 9:20-22, Leviticus 15:25)

Romans 10:4

 For Christ is theend of the law for righteousness for everyone who believes.

Acts 13:38-39

 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man [Jesus] is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from ALL things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

God’s desire is that we live a life of rest. (Hebrews 4:11) God knew from the very beginning that we would not be able to obtain rest on our own without a perfect sacrifice for sin. (Genesis 3:15, Hebrews 10:1-4) The conscience we have of knowing right and wrong and the consciousness of sin that the law of Moses provides, lead us to a place that is anything but restful. (Genesis 2:17, Romans 3:20)

Knowing or not knowing that because of Jesus’ once and for all sacrifice for sins we now have peace with God and all access to blessings and no curses affects our state of mind greatly. Not realising this truth we hesitate to approach God; go about life believing He is not with us and think we must work and work for everything. (Hebrews 10:10, 19-23, Galatians 3:13-14)

Romans 5:1

 Therefore having been justified by faith,we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ..

Romans 5:9

 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him [Jesus Christ].

Having natural rest is important, but the Bible says that the greatest rest of all that truly refreshes our heart and minds each day is through seeing Jesus. (Isaiah 28:12, Acts 3:19) Seeing Jesus having justified you by His blood, gives rest afresh to a conscience tainted with sin and a mind tired with worry that a certain blessing may not manifest. Seeing Jesus having taken on God’s wrath against sin in His perfect love for us, allows us to enter God’s rest. (Romans 5:9, 1 John 4:10)

 Acts 3:19

 ..times of refreshing come from the presence of the Lord.

 Jesus is rest. He is our rest with God. (Colossians 2:16-17, Hebrews 4:3-4) Everything about trying to uphold the law thinking that doing so will please God, depletes us of all life, making us weary and afraid. (Galatians 3:10-11, 1 John 4: 17-18) Jesus says to everyone, ‘Come to Me, and I will give you rest…and you will find rest for your souls.’ (Matthew 11-28-29)

 May you find the greatest rest of all today – rest in Christ.  He loves you perfectly and will show you nothing but grace every time you come to Him. There is refreshing in His presence. Amen.

(Romans 8: 38-39, John 1:14,17-18)