Rest in Him and leave the rest to Him.

Hebrews 4 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

Therefore, we must fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. ² For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also did; but the word they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united with those who listened with faith. ³ For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said,

“As I swore in My anger, They certainly shall not enter My rest,”

although His works were finished from the foundation of the world. ⁴ For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; ⁵ and again in this passage, “They certainly shall not enter My rest.” ⁶ Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who previously had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, ⁷ He again sets a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before,

“Today if you hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.”

⁸ For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. ⁹ Consequently, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. ¹⁰ For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. ¹¹ Therefore let’s make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience. ¹² For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ¹³ And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we must answer.

¹⁴ Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let’s hold firmly to our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.

Today’s text says: There remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let’s make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we must answer.  In Matthew 12:8 Jesus says: “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”  If we are to enter into His rest, we must enter in Him. He is our Lord and our Sabbath. In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus says:  “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.”  In Christ we not only have rest from our labor, but we also have rest in our labor with Him. We can rest if we are doing the work of the Lord, with the Lord. In John 14:12-14 Jesus says: “Truly, truly I say to you, the one who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”  We can rest because it is actually Jesus, through the power of the Holy spirit, who will do the work. We rest in Him and leave the rest to Him. We can rest because when Jesus was on the cross, in John 19:30 He said: “It is finished!” The work is already fully accomplished in the heavenly realm. That’s why Jesus taught us to pray saying: ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.’  No matter what the circumstance or situation on earth, we pray that the things of earth would come into alignment with what is already fully accomplished in heaven, that the realities of heaven will be manifested on earth.

The text says: Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let’s hold firmly to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.  No matter what you are facing today, confess that Jesus is your Savior and Lord. Approach the throne of grace with confidence, knowing that Jesus has fully accomplished all that you need. It is finished in heaven. In John 16:33 Jesus says: “These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”  As we walk and work in and through the difficulties and tribulation of the world, we can rest knowing that Jesus has already overcome and accomplished all that we need. “It is finished!” Romans 8:35-39 says: Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or trouble, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? …  in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Rest in Him and leave the rest to Him.

Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come.
Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give me this day my daily bread. And forgive my debts, As I forgive my debtors. And do not lead me into temptation, But deliver me from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. I rest in You. Amen.