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Sunday, March 28, 2010

Sharing Rest with God

"Rest has cured more people than all the medicine in the world."
~ Harold J. Reilly


Sharing Rest with God

" '... the seventh [day] is the Sabbath of rest ... a sign between Me and [My people]; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.' "
~ Exodus 31:15-17 (NKJV)

"Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest, that ... [you] may be refreshed."
~ Exodus 23:12 (NKJV)

" 'Well done, good and faithful servant ... Enter into the joy of your lord.' "
~ Matthew 25:21 (NKJV)


How intriguing that on the seventh day of creation, the Lord "rested and was refreshed." The Hebrew word translated "refreshed" is naphash, and refers to breathing. Even in contemporary conversation, we recognize the need to put life on hold and "take time to breathe."

The idea is that we have worked with excellence for six days, and now take time to simply appreciate what we've accomplished with a satisfied sigh, just as God did. Even repetitive tasks without apparent achievement prove our faithfulness in building lives of value. Regardless of how content we are with ourselves, a day spent resting with Him offers opportunity to enter the joy of the Lord's satisfaction with His "good and faithful servant."

Surely even after six thousand years since creation, God continues to finds refreshment in the mutual satisfaction of shared rest.

Lord, thank You for creating the Sabbath for us. Please teach us to use it for its fullest blessing to You and to ourselves. Please help us connect with You in new ways.

Your feedback is appreciated. Post to
BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
#encouragement

10 comments:

  1. I just finished telling my husband he shouldn't do construction tomorrow, it's a day of rest ;) Great minds think alike.

    My parents are from Europe and they are staunch about not gardening or disturbing the earth on Sundays. As for me I'll take all the rest I can get, and if the Lord demands it, all the better!

    Have a great palm Sunday.

    (FYI as Good Friday approaches I wanted to mention it is almost as precious to me as Easter. One of my favorite year-round quotes is from Revered Schuller (sp) "There is no Easter without Good Friday." So many applications in our daily lives.)

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  2. i just loved that illustration. it so reveals the perfect rest...AFTER work. i know plenty of believers who are loving their rest, but really don't care for the labor.

    David
    www.redletterbelievers.com

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  3. I'm looking forward to a day of rest tomorrow. Singer and harpist Amy Shreve will be at our church leading us in our Palm Sunday service. Should be special.

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  4. Ahhh, how I needed this, Anne. I look forward to Sunday worship and Sunday naps. Both refresh and enliven me for the week ahead.

    God is so good. I have been asking for daily miracles...and had one yesterday. Can't wait to share with you!

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  5. Oh, wow ... Until reading this, I'd completely missed this whole idea that the LORD "was refreshed" in His rest.

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  6. T ~ Funny that you'd mention disturbing the earth. Since Jesus' used the soil as a metaphor for our hearts, Sunday is the day to especially soften and work that soil.

    David ~ Your comment makes such an important point. It's all about balance. Without six days of worthy labor, a day of rest doesn't become terribly special.

    Keli ~ Amy Shreve? I'm not familiar with her, but any harpist is something I'd look forward to as a PERFECT accent to rest. I pray the Lord uses that music to refresh your soul.

    Gwen ~ I'm VERY glad to hear that you don't use today as a chance to catch up. Be refreshed, dear one!

    Jennifer ~ I missed this too until last week. I've read that passage enough times. I can't believe I'm so dense! I suppose the Lord opens our eyes to His truths in His timing.

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  7. A day to put life on hold and connect with our Father....refreshing indeed. And oh-so-necessary to balance our busy lives! He thinks of everything, doesn't he? :) Thank you for sharing :)

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  8. I praise my Father for giving me sweet rest in Him.

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  9. Shelly ~ Balance is key to so much of the Christian walk. It's SO hard not to swing from one extreme to the other.

    Jason ~ Thanks to you. You're an encouragement. Your congregation is blessed.

    Denise ~ I rejoice to hear that you know that rest. Thank You, Lord.

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