Who's Doing the Work?
Rest (verb)
Cease work or movement in order to refresh oneself or recover strength
Be placed or supported as to stay in a specified position
Be based on or grounded in; depend on
If you kept a running count of all the times you fell short when it came to pleasing God, what would the total be? I know my number would be high, and that thinking about it at times could bring an unnecessary, yet heavy, heartache to my chest. Lately, God has placed it on my heart to meditate on, write about, and live out, rest in Him.
The phrase “be still” can be found in many places in Scripture, including:
Psalm 46:10: Be still and know that I am God.
Exodus 14:14: The LORD will fight for you, you need only to be still.
Psalm 37:7:Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.
So, what is this rest, and why is it so vital in the lives of Christians?
It is no coincidence that He has led me to these verses word when I consider my religious background and people-pleasing propensities. Perfectionism once polluted my relationship with my Heavenly Father, and often left me feeling defeated. It has been quite the journey to “let go and let God”. However, I would walk that way again if I had to.
In my recent history, I have looked up at the cross and felt my shame fester rather than see Jesus take it away. The sense of unworthiness has run through my veins, trying to match up to my King on the cross, and repay Him for His payment.
When I think about what Jesus did for us at Calvary, it is easy to be overcome with emotion and filled with awe. Sometimes the weight of God’s mercy and love is so heavy that it brings me to my knees, or prostrate in the presence of His glory. I see that my righteousness is as filthy rags in comparison to His pure and utter holiness, (Isaiah 64:6).
The truth is, I have attempted to be holy by my own volition, and thereby burned out, feeling like a disappointment to my Father who sacrificed so much for me. I realized that I have worshipped Jesus in His suffering, but forgotten the promise he offers in his resurrection and ascension.
The moral of the story is that while what Jesus did on the cross is an integral part of our salvation, we should not keep our focus there. When Jesus freed us from the death our sin brings, He exhorted us to repent. And it is only in repentance, our focus turns from what we can do toward what God has done and promised.
Our savior does not leave us alone on this journey of sanctification when He ascends, but comes back as our teacher, comforter, and closest friend. The Holy Spirit is our divine reminder of the good news, who keeps our eyes focused on the things above, and pushes us to take action against our sins.
It is when He comes to dwell in us that we gain the full understanding that Jesus is in the Father, and we are in Jesus, and He is in us, (John 14:20). This is made possible only by the power of God. Our own works do not make us like God, and do not make us Christians.
Our faith alone saves us, gives us a relationship with the Father, and fills us with the Holy Spirit, who does the works. When these good works take place, we bear the same fruit of Jesus’ own Spirit, and that makes us Christians.
When we have faith in the path Jesus paves for us to be reconciled with the Father, we can rest. When we have faith that the Holy Spirit will never leave us to our own efforts again, He can work. When we have faith that Jesus is coming back the same way He left, and that we too will go home that same way, we can have peace.
Abide in Jesus’ love, and branch out from the true vine full of fruit. For without Him, we can do nothing, and cannot bear this fruit. Meditate on His words and know His will, so that you can be used to bring it to fruition here on Earth as it is in Heaven. In this, you will glorify the Father, (John 15:1-11). Not because you are good, but because a glorious God is working through you. In this, we can stop doing for God, and start doing with God.
Reflection:
Read Zechariah 4:6. Are your works dependent on your own power and might, or by God and His Spirit?
Rayanne is learning what it means to be a disciple of the love of her life in the day to day of living her life. She is a full-time early childhood teacher, wife, and Jesus enthusiast. She is learning how to trust the process of using her gifts of the Spirit along with her earthly gifts. Exploring nature, making and appreciating art in all forms, and building relationships with those around her bring her joy and peace!