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

The Holy Spirit wants to make the distinction that rest focuses on what’s been done, whereas worrying obsesses about what’s undone or left to do.

Today’s scripture, Genesis 2:2 (NLT) says…
[2] On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work.

Consider…
When I used today’s verse in yesterday’s post, the Holy Spirit underlined…
God had finished his work…so he rested from all his work.

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned over the past decade is salvation is the ‘Finished Work of God’.

I learned the significance Jesus’ dying declaration in John 19:30 (NIV)…
[30] When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

That significance is explained in Romans 6:10-11 (NLT)…
[10] When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. [11] So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

I find it interesting that The all-powerful God didn’t kill sin, but instead died once to break it’s power.

That’s an important distinction, because sin wasn’t God’s focus, it was and is our obedience to Him.

Recall the question God asked Adam in the garden. Genesis 3:11 (NLT) said…
[11] “Who told you that you were naked?” the LORD God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?”

Notice, God asked Adam about his disobedience.

Then the Holy Spirit then reminded me that Romans 5:19 (NLT) explains…
[19] Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.

God pays attention to obedience and disobedience, which are reflections of His importance in our lives. You see, obedience says that God is more important than what I see, feel or want, whereas disobedience says the opposite.

That’s why Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23 (NLT)…
[21] “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. [22] On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ [23] But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

Notice, Jesus said our Heavenly Father doesn’t recognize disobedient people, regardless of their outward appearance.

That tells me obedience is motive based, it’s our why, not what, we do!

This conclusion reminded me of God saying obedience is better than sacrifice. For full context, 1 Samuel 15:20-23 (NLT) says…
[20] “But I did obey the LORD,” Saul insisted. “I carried out the mission he gave me. I brought back King Agag, but I destroyed everyone else. [21] Then my troops brought in the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and plunder to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.” [22] But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. [23] Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.”

I appreciate the context because many of us are just like Saul and give God what we want rather than what He requires.

That hit play on Uncle Reece singing…

I don’t want your money
I don’t want your time
I don’t want your tears
So stop all that crying
I don’t want your praise
I don’t want your dance
I don’t want your worship
So put down your hands
I don’t need your skills
I don’t need your talents
You got me so i already have them
I don’t want your fame
I don’t want your glory
All I want is love
I don’t want your sad story

[Chorus]
If I don’t have your heart
Nothing that you do for me
Really matters me at all
If I don’t have your love
Nothing that you do for me
Really matters me at all

Obedience is our wholehearted expression of love to God.

However, when considering our hearts Jeremiah 17:9-10 (NLT) exposes…
[9] “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? [10] But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”

Yikes!!! 😰

The Holy Spirit convicted me with the fact that although we want, and celebrate, God’s unconditional love, we fail to give Him ours.

This is proven by the fact that we want details from God before obeying Him. However, that’s the exact opposite of God’s order of operation, He requires obedience before sharing the details. See Abraham and Noah for examples.

That makes me think of a saying that my wife heard recently, and now lives by with God, which is “obey right away”.

As wonderful as that sounds, it’s impossible for many of us, because we still want to give God what we desire rather obey like He requires. That’s because it is, which is why the Apostle Paul exhorts in Galatian 5:16 (NLT)…
So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

Yet, even when we fail to let the Holy Spirit lead us, we can rest in the fact that we right in God’s sight because of what His grace has already done.

Ephesians 2:2-5 (NLT) explains…
[2] You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil, the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. [3] All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. [4] But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, [5] that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

God’s response to our deadly disobedience was GRACE.

God’s
Righteousness
At
Christ’s
Expense

…in advance

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT) further explains…
[8] God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. [9] Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

What Jesus finished on the cross was sin’s reign over us. Because of our Savior’s finished work, we now live under God’s amazing grace.

Romans 5:21 (NLT) expounds…
[21] So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

There’s much more that can be discussed about the finished work of Christ, but today’s focus is about resting in it.

Thus, going back to today’s verse, notice God finished creation in six days. He didn’t take a break on day seven and resume on day eight. Today’s scripture says after God had finished He rested.

It’s important to recognize, God has already done everything that He wants or needs to do. He has finished His-Story, we’re just walking through the pages that are revealing His glory.

The reason that perspective is important is because it reframes how we view and go through life.

Romans 6:22-23 NLT
[22] But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. [23] For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

We are saved from sin’s power by what Christ did, not what we do! 🙏🏾

Yet there seems to be a disconnect because although we have been saved from sin’s power, we don’t live in a way that reflects we know we are.

The Apostle Paul said in Galatians 5:1 (ERV)…
[1] We have freedom now, because Christ made us free. So stand strong in that freedom. Don’t go back into slavery again.

The Holy Spirit is emphasizing we should live free because Christ already died hard!

The Holy Spirit gave me an important caveat about living freed. He led me to Galatians 5:13 (ERV), which admonishes…
[13] My brothers and sisters, God chose you to be free. But don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do what pleases your sinful selves. Instead, serve each other with love.

We’ve been freed to serve others not satisfy ourselves.

This highlights that Christ saved us from selfishness to selflessness.

For example, some of us would be included in the excluded group that Jesus called out in Matthew 25:41-45 (NLT)…
[41] “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. [42] For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. [43] I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ [44] “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ [45] “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’

Embeded in Jesus’ indictment is the fact that this rejected group had the wherewithal to help, but didn’t. We must be careful not to ignore the needs God brings our way.

As a matter of fact, 1 John 3:17-19 (NLT) admonishes…
[17] If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion, how can God’s love be in that person? [18] Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. [19] Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God.

You see selfless Christ-like love for others is the standard God requires, and evaluates the obedience of His children with.

The final thought that the Holy Spirit has given me about resting in the finished work of God, is that should make us live worry-free.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:31-34 (ERV)…
[31] “Don’t worry and say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ [32] That’s what those people who don’t know God are always thinking about. Don’t worry, because your Father in heaven knows that you need all these things. [33] What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you to do. Then he will give you all these other things you need. [34] So don’t worry about tomorrow. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Tomorrow will have its own worries.

We can rest in God knowing and having already provided everything we need. Accordingly, we can prioritize doing what He requires over getting what we selfishly desire.

Philippians 4:6 (NLT) reiterates…
[6] Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Notice, the last part of the prescription for living worry-free is thanking God for what He’s done. I believe that’s because we can rest in the knowledge that God has already done everything we need, before we even ask.

So today…

• rest in the knowledge God has already prepared everything He has for you.
• rest in the fact that God has already done everything you need.
• rest in His unfailing love and sufficient grace that covers your multitude of sins
• rest in knowing that when you obey right away, He will reveal the details of His way
• rest in the simple fact that God says everything is already done, it’s just not yet revealed.

Today’s song is…
Already Done

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)