Today’s Tasting: Psalms 95, 97–99
Psalm 95: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, when your fathers put me to the test and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work. For forty years I loathed that generation and said, ‘They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways.’ Therefore I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest.’”
Psalm 97:1, 7, 9: “The Lord reigns … worship him … you are exalted far above all gods.”
Psalm 98: “Sing … the salvation of our God. Sing praises to the Lord, sing, sing. Make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord! Sing.”
Psalm 99: “Holy is He. He answered, He spoke, He forgives.”
Today’s Nourishment: Each time I read the Bible, I am amazed at how often the New Testament writers quote Old Testament passages. Psalm 95:7–11 is cited by the author of Hebrews, in 3:7–11. In the chapter that follows, the writer describes rest for believers.
Entering into His rest describes my current journey, which the Lord leads in my spiritual walk with Him. After the start of 2015, I discovered that the number 15 in scripture denotes rest. I sensed the Lord say that He would teach me about rest this year. Therefore, the Lord has been leading me to study rest and learn to walk, live, and abide in His rest in the midst of all the chaos and busyness of life.
In this year of 2015, I pray that we, as God’s people, learn of His rest. According to Hebrews 3:7–4:13 and Matthew 11:28–30, His rest consists of:
- Hearing His voice
- Believing with your heart
- Uniting God’s Word with faith
- Exhorting other believers away from sin
- Reflecting on the beauty of God’s creation, people, food, and surroundings
- Keeping company with Christ
- Taking on Jesus’ view of the Father
- Releasing the stresses of life to Him
Rest is essential for body-soul-spirit health. Rest encompasses so much more than we can discuss now. Rest isn’t something that we achieve on our own. Nor is rest about a day. However, rest is allowing God to grace us with gifts, talents, and skills to fulfill the call He has for us. Rest is releasing the responsibilities to God in that calling. Rest is fully trusting God about all matters in our lives. Rest is enjoying our surroundings and seeing God in His creation. Rest is accepting and extending an invitation to reconciliation. Reconciliation just makes things right with God and others. Rest calls us to a deeper life in Christ as we learn to abide in Him. Rest is believing God, His Word, and His promises. Rest is enjoying the life He has given us.
Do you know about the believer’s rest—a rest that we find only in Christ? Come along on this journey with me as we take the 15 at face value and learn His rest in this year 2015.
Look again at the list and select one or two to focus on as you learn in 2015 to live in His rest. Share it with us in the comment section below:
Tomorrow’s Delight: 2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21–22
Carolyn Marlowe, CCLC
Gigi to six adorable grandchildren
I’ll be the first to share, from the list above, areas that I am focusing on to learn to live in His rest:
Keeping company with Christ
Taking Jesus’ view of the Father
Releasing life stresses to Him
I am learning to keep company with Christ and practice His presence with me throughout the day. Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn of me.” In the Complete Jewish Bible Commentary, Stein says, “A yoke was a rabbi’s view of the Law.” In this case, it was Jesus view of the Father. I am pondering the statements Jesus said about our Heavenly Father and looking from Jesus’ perspective. And, then, I am constantly releasing life stresses and burdens to Jesus by saying, “Jesus, I can’t carry _______. I roll this burden on to You and show me my part in this. I believe You at Your Word and I praise You!”
I chose, keeping company with Christ and releasing life stresses to Him. I know that being in God’s Presence and His Word daily is where my strength comes from. I realize more everyday that I must release the stresses of life to Him in order to be strong. He never intended for us to carry the burdens because He knew we couldn’t bare it. That’s what the cross was all about. Thank You Lord that I can release my cares to You and live the abundant life you intended for me. Thank You for Your Word that is life, strength, promise, and peace.