Unforced part 3
Rest results from the unforced rhythms of grace. We learn to rest as we spend time with the One who finished the work. But what, exactly, IS rest? We know rest is the promised land. The land that flows with milk (righteousness) and honey (revelation). And we know it's connected to faith--trusting God and believing His Word (Jesus, love). Look at Hebrews 4:1-3, "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world." And the word, "rest," is number 2663 in Strong's Greek Concordance and it means, "reposing down, that is, abode." It's LITERALLY the Promised Land. It's where we live. Where we dwell. Not WHAT we do, but HOW we do it. Because rest is NOT inactivity. Rest is simply Holy Spirit directed, and Holy Spirit powered, activity. The works were finished from the foundation of the world. The Lamb was slain. Sin was taken away. And because of that we have been equipped and empowered to believe the truth. The ultimate truth of the universe that the Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into His hands. The truth that we are His beloved Son in whom He is well pleased. That truth that Daddy loves us. You have to have faith to enter into rest. And faith comes from hearing, and hearing from the Word of God. We enter into our abode, or our dwelling place, or our home, by spending time with the carpenter Jesus who built that home. Built US into that home! God took up abode in us on the cross. The Message Bible says it like this in Revelation 21:3, "...Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! They're his people, and he's their God." So what is rest? It's God. It's love. It's our home. And the best part is, we can't force our way in (and don't need to)... because HE already moved into us! We dwell in Him because He dwells in us! Look at 1 John 4:16, "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." You can't believe something you don't know. That's why faith comes from hearing. That's why we learn to rest by spending time with the One who finished the work. The Kingdom (righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost), the Promised Land, rest... these are all terms, or pictures, used to describe love. The unforced rhythms of grace allow us to see things as they truly are. To see God's love for us and to BE God's love one to another. To receive and release the gift of eternal life. To be loved, and to love one another with that same love as it flows out of us naturally. We are filled to overflowing. We don't have to force it out. It's in there... so it going to come out!