Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today, let’s make sure we truly take a break.

Today’s scripture, Hebrews 4:9-11 (NLT) says…
[9] So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. [10] For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. [11] So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.

Consider…
Earlier in my career I used to go on working vacations. And sometimes there were vacations that I was ready to go back to work to get a break from the vacation. My beloved big brother witnessed a couple of my working vacations first hand, and admonished me to fully embrace taking a break.

It’s easy to get consumed with working and staying busy all of the time. For some of us, our calendar looks like a collage of meetings, tasks and appointments. Yet in Ecclesiastes 2:11 (NLT)
King Solomon said…
[11] But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.

And a little later on in that chapter, Ecclesiastes 2:20-23 (NLT), he confessed…
[20] So I gave up in despair, questioning the value of all my hard work in this world. [21] Some people work wisely with knowledge and skill, then must leave the fruit of their efforts to someone who hasn’t worked for it. This, too, is meaningless, a great tragedy. [22] So what do people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety? [23] Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless.

Perspective is everything! The Holy Spirit didn’t inspire Solomon’s writing to declare work unnecessary. We know that because the same Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle Paul to write 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 (NLT), which says…
[10] Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.” [11] Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. [12] We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living.

Accordingly, what Solomon realized was unhealthy and unbalanced obsession with work is vanity. This reminds me of Jesus’ story in Luke 12:16-21 (NLT)…
[16] Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. [17] He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ [18] Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. [19] And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ [20] “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ [21] “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”

This story provides the perspective conundrum that we face. Are we living to work and accumulate treasures here on earth, or are we working to live while pursuing a rich relationship with God. Writing that ran my mind to Jesus’ admonition in Matthew 6:31-33 (NLT)…
[31] “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ [32] These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. [33] Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

When we keep things in the right perspective, we trust God to provide everything we need when we pursue living for and like Jesus.

In addition to refocusing my perspective about work, the Holy Spirit confirmed another aspect of my big brother’s wisdom about truly taking a break. Jesus said in Matthew 6:34 (NLT)…
[34] “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

The Holy Spirit just flashed, what’s the use of working to get ahead if in a moment you could be dead?

Accordingly, the message that the Holy Spirit is emphasizing is stop work stressing when you should be truly resting.

This brings us to today’s scripture, which says…

• Rest is a place waiting for us
• Entering rest leaves us rested
• God’s rest after creation is the standard
• We should do our best to rest according to God’s standard

This inclines me to revisit God’s creation rest to fully understand His standard. Genesis 2:1-3 (NLT)…
[1] So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed. [2] On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. [3] And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.

Here are some key tenants of God’s rest standard…

• Complete your work in the allotted time.
• Rest signifies everything has been completed
• Rest is set apart (Holy) from work. *** I hear my brother saying “see I told you that you should truly take a break from work”.
• Rest means no work

So today, I encourage you, and me, to…

• Work hard as unto God Colossians 3:23-25
• Then when your work is finished, take a break and rest with Jesus.

Enjoy your rest 🤗

Today’s Song is…
Sabbath Rest

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)