For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  Matt. This desire for autonomy through self-definition forms the basis for the Fall and continues to plague our functioning in relationship to God and others today. These translations seem wrong. Spiritual Growth and Christian Living Resources. 23:1-6, "Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.” Ecc. When Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:30), He provided the final word on the work for redemption. What Are "Signs and Wonders" of the End Times? 4:8, "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” Ps. The disciples, many of whom were seasoned fishermen, were terrified and woke Jesus, saying, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38). Complete Jewish Bible She said, ‘Please, let me glean and gather what falls from the sheaves behind the reapers.' Sabbath rest requires our acknowledgment that God is in control and we are not and our observance of Sabbath rest than becomes a reflection and celebration of this provision and not just a cessation of work. Help me remember that your power is unending. The land also needed to rest (Leviticus 25:4, 8-12). No? 6:24-26. Independence is an illusion, but dependence on God results in life and freedom through righteousness (Romans 6:18-19). In Jesus, we enjoy the deep-seated rest of knowing that our life is fully and completely in God’s care, and that our true identity is found in belonging to Jesus. 11:28-30, “And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Ex. They do not agree with Hebrews 4:10, which tells us to stop our own works. The problem with the work-life "balance" concept is the image of two competing forces: one always prevails over the other, except for those rare moments when "life" and "work" are in perfect tension. In fact, you love it when you work out the impossible. In the New Testament, it is also said that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Our works cannot save us (Ephesians 2:8-9). “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 40:29-31, “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Ps. Some Bible translations say in Hebrews 4:11 that we should ‘strive’ to receive God’s rest. Father, sometimes I can’t rest because what I face looks impossible. God first set the example, and then offered it as a blessing to man. Our physical body is a gift from God. The one who knows them each by name as it says in Isaiah 40:26. In fact, the Bible doesn't make a dichotomy between work and life because in the ancient world, work, life and family life were often integrated. The word that is used of God resting on the seventh day in Genesis 2:2 is Sabbath, the same word that will be used later calling Israel to cease from their normal activities. Ultimately, this rest can only be found in … Hence, we should take care of it by having a good rest. 2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. New Testament Bible Verses on Rest . By putting evening first, God established the importance of prioritizing physical rest as a prerequisite for effective work. When God saw all He had created, His heart gained comfort, satisfaction and happiness, and He stopped all His work and entered into rest. How does Mark 6:30-34 show that Jesus had a balanced view of work and rest?. All rights reserved. 113:3, “A heart at peace gives life to the body…”  Prov. 8:6, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Our challenge is not how to balance “work” and “life” so much as how to live a balanced, fruitful life that comprises healthy, blessed rhythms of work, rest and play. The serpent’s temptation to Eve exposed the challenge of dependence with the consideration of whether we rest in God’s wisdom or whether we want to be like God and make the choice of good and evil for ourselves (Genesis 3:5). The practice of rest can seem like an intangible luxury in our chaotic world, but our willingness to relinquish control in the structure of the day and rhythm of the week to a loving Creator demonstrates our dependence on God for all things, temporal and eternal. Lord, I pray you would calm my anxiousness. – Hebrews 4:11. You can’t understand one without the other. We can’t get it all done, even with 24 hours a day and seven days a week. He leads me beside still waters. While we think we can be free and independent from God, we are dependent and slaves to sin (Romans 6:16). Amen. This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright © 2021, Crosswalk.com. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 6 Regarding work, balance is important. Finding True Rest. He doesn’t rush around to fix everything for everyone. Amen. Resting in the Lord means stopping our attempts at independence, which are futile anyway, and trusting that God does love us and knows what is best for us. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And some translations tell us to ‘make every effort’. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. This Bible study examines the meaning and place of “rest” and “work” in the Bible, providing a relevant roadmap for our everyday lives. The word “rest” first appears in the Book of Genesis 2:1-3: “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating … But beyond this functional recognition lies the eternal design in which we yearn for the restoration and redemption of our bodies “to be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God” (Romans 8:21). These periods of rest are intended to be restorative and are also opportunities to intentionally take time to consider Christ and our relationship with Him. So she went and has kept at it from morning until now, except for a little rest in the shelter." “Rest isn’t failure. People thrive when we work … In the creation account, God established a rhythm for us to follow, both in our work and in our rest, to maintain our effectiveness and purpose as created in His image. Christ’s resurrection established a new creation order, shifting the focus from ending creation with rest on the Sabbath to resurrection and new birth on the first day of the week. The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. The purpose of the Law was not to provide a means of salvation, but so that “the whole world may be held accountable to God. “Have you not known? He knows He needs to connect to His Father, to pour out His heart to Him, to rest in the comfort of His arms as He grieves the loss of John the Baptist. Help me to rest in You, Lord. Workplace Christians who wonder if the Bible s Sabbath commandments still apply to us today will find this to be a practical, meditative, and helpful guide. 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