May 08, 2025 | Be God's Family
A Sabbath Rest for the People of God
Scripture: Hebrews 4:1-5(NIV)
1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,
“So I declared on oath in my anger,
‘They shall never enter my rest.’”
And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.” 5 And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”
Devotional
The importance of entering God’s rest is woven throughout the Bible, beginning with the familiar verses of Genesis in which we are told that God created the universe and all living things in six days. “2By the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on the seventh day He rested from all His work. 3Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all of the work of creating that He had done” (Genesis 2:2-3).
In Psalm 95, the writer (probably David) remembers that God was angry with the Israelites because they did not follow His commands after He had freed them from slavery in Egypt. God “declared on oath in my anger, they shall never enter my rest” (Psalm 95:11). We know that even Moses did not fully receive God’s rest and therefore, did not enter the promised land of Canaan.
The writer of Hebrews tells us that God’s “promise of entering His rest” which was described in Psalm 95:11 remains for us today as Christians. We need to be careful to enter His rest (Hebrews 4:1-5). Entering His rest means having total faith in Jesus Christ and then being obedient to His commands. Entering God’s rest means accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior. It is not enough to hear God’s Word, we must receive it as faith. Importantly, this rest is not just for some of us, it is intended for everyone who trusts in and relies on Jesus Christ (See Pastor David Guzak, Enduring Word, Sermon: “Jesus Gives Rest”).
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28
Have you entered God’s rest? Are you helping other people to enter God’s rest?
Poem
O, Gift Of Rest
Genesis 2:1-3
By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
Genesis 2:2-3
O, gift of rest for weary
Who work resistant ground
With thorns in flesh, weeds choking
God’s laborers confound
We praise You, God, for resting
Each Sabbath to revive
Our weary, curse worn bodies
Your holiness, inspire
O, gift of rest post labor
The intercessor’s strife
The pains extreme, forgotten
The birthing of new life
Contractions long, are silenced
When a new child is born
Into your glorious kingdom
Now sheltered in Your arms
O, gift of rest—forgiveness!
After a night of tears
After the broken-hearted
Redeemed from debt arrears
A heavy burden lifted
The weary, finally rest
As Jesus whispers comfort
To child upon His breast
O, gift of rest, created
For human’s great delight
Not bound by legalism
Not laws which bring more strife
But holy day of freedom
God’s gift of jubilee!
A day when we remember
In Christ, we’ve been set free!
[may be sung to Aurelia by Samuel S. Wesley; also known as “The Church’s One Foundation”]
