There is something to be said about a “good day’s work” that leads to satisfying rest. For our series in Joshua, it has all been about God using Joshua as an instrument to fulfill his promise to Abraham, Moses, and the children of Israel. God had said many years before Joshua that Israel would have their own land to raise their own families while worshipping their one, true God. That time had finally come, and now it was time to rest. Are you taking advantage of the blessing of rest?
It’s ironic as I am writing this devotional that I am thoroughly exhausted. It has been a long and trying season in my life. Please don’t feel sorry for me. I know what I “signed up” for when I entered ministry almost 30 years ago. With that said, it still doesn’t change the fact that we all need rest at certain times in our lives. I am soon to take a much-needed vacation. I need some rest, and I recognize that reality.
When I think of the past year at Emmanuel, I am overjoyed and overwhelmed with what God has done. Even in this past couple of weeks, we have baptized almost 10 people. The church continues to grow both in terms of people and in spiritual maturity. We’ve never had this many growth groups before, and it is easy to see the health of our church on so many levels. God has indeed been working in great ways.
We are at the end of our study on Joshua and isn’t it encouraging to see that Joshua was successful to accomplish all that God had intended for him to accomplish? For you and me that should be the goal of our lives. I love what the Apostle Paul said as he neared the end of his life. It was as if he was reminding himself that he did all that he could do for the glory of God. Notice his words: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8). Now, finally, he was nearing his eternal rest. He wrote these blessed words with a sense of gratitude and satisfaction. It was a holy kind of exhaustion.
You may not be nearing your eternal rest, but you do need to take time to rest. You do need to accomplish what God has set out for you to accomplish by his power, and then to sit back and recharge for the next challenge or season. We know that Israel would have future battles with future enemies, but for now, it was time to rest. We need rest. I need rest. You need rest. Are you taking the time to rest?
As I consider the importance of rest, I am reminded of a few “laws to live by” so that we can maximize our potential for God:
1. Rest allows me to fully recharge for the next battle.
2. Rest allows me to reset my relational focus on God.
3. Rest allows me to review what I should have done differently.
Hopefully, you are experiencing a season of influence in your family, church, and community. As you “push forward,” remember that you definitely need to take time to rest. If Jesus did, so should you! There is nothing like resting after God has used you to accomplish his will. It’s so satisfying. He gets all the glory; you get to reflect on his goodness!
It’s ironic as I am writing this devotional that I am thoroughly exhausted. It has been a long and trying season in my life. Please don’t feel sorry for me. I know what I “signed up” for when I entered ministry almost 30 years ago. With that said, it still doesn’t change the fact that we all need rest at certain times in our lives. I am soon to take a much-needed vacation. I need some rest, and I recognize that reality.
When I think of the past year at Emmanuel, I am overjoyed and overwhelmed with what God has done. Even in this past couple of weeks, we have baptized almost 10 people. The church continues to grow both in terms of people and in spiritual maturity. We’ve never had this many growth groups before, and it is easy to see the health of our church on so many levels. God has indeed been working in great ways.
We are at the end of our study on Joshua and isn’t it encouraging to see that Joshua was successful to accomplish all that God had intended for him to accomplish? For you and me that should be the goal of our lives. I love what the Apostle Paul said as he neared the end of his life. It was as if he was reminding himself that he did all that he could do for the glory of God. Notice his words: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8). Now, finally, he was nearing his eternal rest. He wrote these blessed words with a sense of gratitude and satisfaction. It was a holy kind of exhaustion.
You may not be nearing your eternal rest, but you do need to take time to rest. You do need to accomplish what God has set out for you to accomplish by his power, and then to sit back and recharge for the next challenge or season. We know that Israel would have future battles with future enemies, but for now, it was time to rest. We need rest. I need rest. You need rest. Are you taking the time to rest?
As I consider the importance of rest, I am reminded of a few “laws to live by” so that we can maximize our potential for God:
1. Rest allows me to fully recharge for the next battle.
2. Rest allows me to reset my relational focus on God.
3. Rest allows me to review what I should have done differently.
Hopefully, you are experiencing a season of influence in your family, church, and community. As you “push forward,” remember that you definitely need to take time to rest. If Jesus did, so should you! There is nothing like resting after God has used you to accomplish his will. It’s so satisfying. He gets all the glory; you get to reflect on his goodness!