The Lord Of Rest

July 7, 2021

And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”

~Mark 2:27‭-‬28~

Creation began and creation rested on the seventh day after Father put together all of His Mighty works on His beautiful canvas. He spoke everything into being and then made the decision to rest. To give Himself time to admire all that He made and all that He loved. For He saw it was good. Jesus was with Him in the beginning. The Lord made the Sabbath day and called it holy.

"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy."

(Exodus 20:8)

The Lord wants us to remember our day of rest as a sign of rest here om earth and rest for eternity in heaven. One day we shall enter into our eternal rest and be at Home with the Lord face to face and until then, we shall have temporary rest on earth as He granted it to us. The Lord was speaking to His disciples and explaining how the Sabbath was His and rest was given to man. It was a gift from God we were to cherish. The Pharisees found themselves judging the very Son of God for healing His people on the day in which He made. Jesus politely pointed out the obvious. All too often we find ourselves making judgement calls over something which is Gods only to make. "Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent." (Mark 3:4)

This day of rest is there to allow us to truely rest in our minds, our bodies, our souls and our spirits. If we are looking to law above faith, we are blocking love and truth from moving in the Lord's will. Pointing fingers at someone who is helping one survive with the Lord's love, accusing them of being "unlawful" or overworking ourselves for our own benefit on the day of Sabbath are equally as foolish to the Lord. Let us enjoy the gift of God's rest and enter into it the way that He calls us to; "Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience." (Hebrews 4:6)

As we begin to obey God and stop looking to please men we will feel ourselves resting. Resting in His Presence, in His Peace and in His love. Jesus came to give us truth and to bring Heaven to earth. He wanted to see us walk in His love, honoring His day by glorifying that which He gave to us. The religious side of the world wants to set up strict rules that Jesus has already disapproved of. Jesus is reaching out to each of us offering His rest. We can honor it, remember it and make it holy by walking in His will and doing exactly as He calls us to do even if others do not approve of it. It may be exactly what God wants of us in that moment; "Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates." (Proverbs 31:31)

We serve a mighty yet gentle King who defeats evil and gives us a pillow on the clouds of His rest all at the same time.

If we humble ourselves and become content with each opportunity He brings, we can see miracles happen in front of us as we are being judged based on the actions men believe are "wrong." The Lord is Lord over all things and this includes the Sabbath. He made His point clear that we are here to serve Him and all we have is given by Him and we can focus on love above law.

"but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God." (Romans 2:29)

People will judge who do not know Christ and people will judge who do know Christ. It is up to us to rest in Him with good hearts and good conscience. For in the end, it is not man who gives us anything. It is God who gives. It is the Lord of rest who provides, heals, loves and protects.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, thank you for Your creation. Thank you for rest and Your holiness within me from Your Son. Without You, I would not have the option of true rest inside and outside. I receive great peace that can come only from You. I exalt all that You are while declaring truth into each situation I endure. Lord, I know there will be opposing spirits, emotions and words around me as I walk in Your will and I can smile and know You are always in control. I need not the praise of men. I am Yours. I pray for my brothers and sisters to enter into Your rest each day, walking in the purpose You have for each of them, laying aside every bitter judgement they may carry. For we know as we judge, we are judged and with our condemning words we will be condemned. If there are any idle words I may have spoken today I ask for Your forgiveness of this and I desire to be holy as You are holy. In the Name of my Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, I rejoice. Amen.