Bible Ballistics: BBs #507  Resting Or Wrestling???

 

I’d simply like to share a bit of encouragement with you all today; a word to help us face the busy, hectic pace of life that confronts us all. I pray that you will find comfort and refreshment from God’s Word.

“The LORD grant you that ye may find rest,

each of you

in the house of her husband.

Then she kissed them;

and they lifted up their voice, and wept.”   Ruth 1:9

Naomi wished her daughters-in-law the Lord’s blessing of new husbands and the ‘rest’ of a peaceful marriage and home. A home can be the blessing of a lifetime or it an bring turmoil and grief; Naomi wished for her loved ones the peace and “rest” that only God could provide within marriage.

“And it came to pass,

when the king sat in his house,

and the LORD had given him rest

round about

from all his enemies;” 2 Samuel 7:1

Here we find King David in the latter part of his reign, finding the peace of God from the many wars that he had lead his armies in. No matter the wars that we may face—God will bring the peace in HIS time.

“Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

11 And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said,

LORD, it is nothing with thee to help,

whether with many,

or with them that have no power:

help us, O LORD our God;

for we rest on thee,

and in thy name

we go against this multitude.

O LORD, thou art our God;

let not man prevail against thee.

12 So the LORD smote the Ethiopians

before Asa,

and before Judah;

and the Ethiopians fled.”   2 Chronicles 14:10-12

King Asa asked for God’s help going into the battle—and he understood that even in the fray of battle “we rest on thee, and in thy name”! So even in the middle of your battles you can “rest” in God’s faithfulness in every situation. He never says “oops”, and He always knows where you are, and where HE is taking you!

“Rest in the LORD,

and wait patiently

for him:

fret not thyself

because of him who prospereth in his way,

because of the man who bringeth

wicked devices to pass.

8 Cease from anger,

and forsake wrath:

fret not thyself in any wise

to do evil.” Psalm 37:7-8   (Read the entire chapter for an extra blessing!)

The Psalmist reminds us that we can have total confidence in our Lord and we can “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him”! We don’t have to fret over those who are wicked and stand against us! We don’t have to take our own “vengeance” but can leave that to our Lord, and walk in peace even when others may come against us! My rest is in the Lord, not man!

And finally, we can take great confidence in the knowledge that our Lord will bring about ultimate and final rest in Him for eternity.

“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me,

Write,

Blessed are the dead

which die in the Lord from henceforth:

Yea, saith the Spirit,

that they may rest from their labours;

and their works do follow them.”   Revelation 14:13

The key is to be sure that we have placed our faith and our confidence in the salvation that only Jesus can impart! Be sure that you have placed your faith in Him and nothing else! We can have HIS rest when we have Jesus, but if we are steeped in unbelief (like those that Hebrews 3 & 4 are talking about) there is no ‘rest’!

“There remaineth therefore a rest

to the people of God.

10 For he that is entered into his rest,

he also hath ceased from his own works,

as God did from his.

11 Let us labour therefore

to enter into that rest,

lest any man fall

after the same example

of unbelief.” Hebrews 4:9-10

Are you resting or wrestling? The choice is yours, but there is a test coming!