Rest & Readiness
It often appears that the Bible places upon us a real tension between living a life of – “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10), and the call to vigilance found in passages like Mark 13:33 – “Be on guard, keep awake”. Are we called to Abide or called to Action? How do we listen to Jesus instructing us to Come Rest in Him (Matthew 11:28) while the Apostle Paul tells us to Redeem the Time (Ephesians 5:16)? Let me offer these few observations about Gospel Rest and Gospel Readiness:
Gospel Rest is rooted in the “It is Finished” of the work of Christ. That means those who walk in Christ find Him to be their Enough so that they don’t work to try to be enough.
Gospel Rest is a posture of the heart that includes resting in Christ as an act of Obedience where we choose trusting Christ over trusting in our best efforts and works of achievement.
3. Gospel Rest has already found delight and satisfaction in the daily provision of Christ, so our rest isn’t seeking to turn gifts into gods but purely enjoy them as good gifts from God.
4. Gospel Readiness flows from a Gospel Rest. We work from our rest rather than simply resting from our work. God’s pattern of rest in Creation models that rest is about more than being tired (Shocker – God wasn’t tired from His work of creating), but the need to establish rhythms of work and worship. We don’t live for the weekend; we live as worshippers.
5. Gospel Readiness isn’t about being busy but being useful. God has given us gifts to use within the scope of each day as servants under the Lordship of the King. We are to use them joyfully in leading others to the rest of the Gospel, not for our own personal gain.
6. Gospel Readiness doesn’t make demands of our rest-leisure-vacations-hobbies, because they aren’t the substance of “pleasures forevermore” but the enjoyable shadows of the greater rest to come.
Rest well my friends, so that you are Ready … both for the King’s return and today’s opportunities!
