The Crossing
As we kick off a new year, we tend to be more open to healthy habits. These six practices could potentially reroute the trajectory of your year. Think of this as your spiritual health club membership.
Biblical rest is not just physical, it is also spiritual. The word rest appears throughout the Old and New Testaments as the word Sabbath.
The desire to work and accomplish comes from God. When we work we are like Him; however, when we don’t rest, it is because we are trying to be Him.
Genesis 2:2-3 NIV
God rested to enjoy what he had created. He rested in order to take it in and celebrate it for what it provided.
This was so important to God, that He made it part of the 10 Commandments.
Exodus 20:8-11 NIV
Paul mentions this exact issue in passing in the book of Romans. There are people who are arguing if Christians should eat certain things and how they should live. One of the issues is the Sabbath.
Romans 14:5-6 NIV
Sabbath is not a command, but there is power in the Spiritual principle of Sabbath or Rest.
While we must admit that we are no longer under the law, we must admit that the law was good. God made the law and everything that God makes is good.
The 10 Commandments are still very relevant to us today.
Most of us who struggle to Sabbath are oftentimes struggling because we are worshiping an idol that we have made for ourselves, the idol of success, achievement, or status.
It’s been said that if Satan can’t make you bad he will make you busy. How many of us have lost the ability to rest?
Three tools to help us Rest:
1. Law of the Bigger Yes - Start saying yes to the things that future you will appreciate.
2. Power Down - Take time to unplug.
3. Fill Up - Physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Hebrews 4:8-11 NIV
Two interpretations of this passage:
1. A picture of heaven - where we will enter into a place of eternal rest, free of pain, worry, sorry, and hardship. Let’s ensure we have that hope in our hearts.
2. A person - our Sabbath rest is Jesus. We experience that rest when we enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ.