Rest comes from believing we are truly accepted by God…

Vikki Waters • September 12, 2016

Like we discussed in the last blog , resting from our works is a spiritual position.

But it does not mean we never do anything again.

Certainly, God has continued to act since His initial creation acts, and He invites us to reign with Him in this life (see Rom. 5:17). The New Testament is full of admonitions to work and labor for God, like this one to the Corinthians:

“Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:58).

It is not work itself that is bad. It is important. What is bad is work done by orphan-hearted people .

See, orphans work to gain approval, while heirs work because of love for the Father. Thus, the rest we inherit in Christ is the rest of knowing that we belong and are eternally accepted. It is a rest from seeking to be good enough.

In other words, this spiritual rest has to do with our heart attitude, with our position before God. When we know who we are in Him and have stopped laboring for His love, we are able to labor for the Kingdom from a place of rest. And we are able to stop working, without feeling guilty, when we need a break. We are able to relax and enjoy life, knowing that this, too, is part of our inheritance as children of God.

God works because of love, not obligation, and it is this reality that He invites us into when He calls us co-heirs and rulers with Christ. Paul describes exactly this quality in the believers in Thessalonica:

“We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 1:3).

Their hard work and labor for the Kingdom were rooted in faith, love, and hope. They were not performing to earn God’s love but performing because of God’s love springing up in their hearts. The distinction may seem small, but it makes all the difference in our ability to live at rest, no matter how full our lives might be.

In God’s presence we find the peace we need to stop striving. We find the ability to let go, to trust God, and to simply be with Him. With Him, we discover the rest, refreshment, and renewal we need to be active partners in the expansion of His Kingdom on earth.

This is an excerpt from  my new book Loved Like Jesus.

I wrote it because I want you to experience the deep love that your heavenly Father has for you. Living from this reality as a much loved son or daughter, you can rest in a confident connection with Him and experience abundant living and lasting freedom.

Order my book today for yourself and an extra copy for a friend, your pastor and/or your small group.

Thanking Him for you,
Vikki

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