My Sunday School class has been looking at the Sabbath and the whole idea of the Sabbath rest of God. My husband Kevin and I have talked about this at length. Since we are just in the beginning of our study, I want to leave my heart open to the things God wants to teach me through this. So I will only share a short query/insight.
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” Matt 11:28
Are we living in His rest?
As are most things in the OT, I believe the Sabbath was pointing to Jesus. He tells us:
“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 easy and My burden is light.” Matt 11:29-30
Are we feeling like our spiritual walks have an easy load or do we feel heavy and weighed down? Are we living our lives out of duty and rules? Are we sensing the peace and fulness of joy that He promised us?
So 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. Heb 4:9-10
What burdens are you holding on to that He wants you to let go of?
You may not even think you have things you are holding on to. But if you are not experiencing the deep and abiding rest of God, then you HAVE burdens in your arms that He wants to take from you.
Now I am not talking about the trials and hardships of our lives. But about the joy and peace in the midst of any circumstance. Are you still able to REJOICE in the goodness of God, even when you are hurting or struggling with every day life situations?
My prayer for each one of you is that you are able to lay those burdens down and enter His rest!
May you be filled with the peace and joy of His Spirit today as you take His burden, which is light, as you lay your own heavy burden of trying to be ‘good enough’ at the foot of the cross!
Images by marin/Freedigitalphotos.net
Kate,
Thank you for sharing this. Timely, and full of sweet truth for a weary heart!
~Lisha 🙂
Praise the Lord, Lisha!
Lovely post, my friend! You are so right in that sometimes we are holding onto something and don’t even know it! He doesn’t want us to carry those burdens, as you said, but to let go and give them to Him! Thanks for hosting.
Oh Amen, sister!!
Thank you so much for this wonderful post. I have been seeking the Lord about this very subject, as we have recently been harshly condemned for buying on Sunday. Not wanting to make changes merely to succumb to legalism or another person’s convictions, I have made diligent search and found the SAME thing you did! I LOVE what you said about…”As are most things in the OT, I believe the Sabbath was pointing to Jesus.” THAT is precisely what God has shown me…that HE is our rest now and the Sabbath commandments were OT requirements which we are no longer under, just like we no longer make sacrifices, because JESUS made the supreme sacrifice for our sins. We are now under grace! In meekness, I still seek Him very earnestly to completely absorb every shred of truth concerning this. I look forward to reading any future insights you are led to share! I am SO happy I came here today for the link-up! God bless you for your obedience to Him, Cheryl
Cheryl, I love your heart to take this to the Lord and listen to what HE says. And technically, since Sunday is NOT the Sabbath, I’d say you are in ‘the clear’ no matter what! 😀
In our study of the Sabbath, I’m seeing more and more that God is centering on ‘where is your heart?’ Am I putting my hopes and confidence in the work I am doing on the Sabbath or am I putting my hopes and confidence in Jesus!
So glad you stopped by and for your excellent insight.
Kate…It was a short but powerful post sweet friend. Sometimes less gets the message across, you know? Thank you for the reminder that I so needed today and for the link up. Praying you have a blessed week. Love to you.
Naomi, you are such a treasure to me! Thanks for coming by, dear friend.
I appreciate this post. I will have to think about it as I go back to bed. I think it is so precious that you and your husband talk in depth about deep things like this.
Judith, you are so sweet. I’m glad you were encouraged!!