Rest

 Hebrews 4:9-10 ESV

 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.


You'd have thought God's commandments to us to rest would be the easiest for us to keep. In reality, it is one of the most broken, neglected, and misunderstood of his commandments. 

Hebrews reveals that the Sabbath is a picture of Christ, in whom we can rest from trying to earn God's acceptance. We're accepted in Christ. So when we trust in him we enter into a Sabbath rest.

The religious people of Jesus's day were so big on the Sabbath that they overemphasised it. Jesus clarified that the Sabbath was made for mankind, not mankind for the Sabbath. Since his resurrection on the first day of the week, it has always been the church's practice to meet on Sundays/the Lord's Day.

The principle of resting one day in seven is an important one because we're not machines. Even God rests! He doesn't need to, but he does so to set a pattern for us.

'Lord of the Sabbath, may we rest in you from our attempts at law keeping. Thank you that we can rest from trying to earn your salvation. For the honour of your name, amen'.

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