What does it mean to enter God's Rest?

Today’s Question is: What does it mean to enter God’s rest?

“God’s Rest” is talked about in so many different ways in the Bible, it can be a bit confusing – What exactly is it? It is something we can have now, or just something to look forward to?

To answer this question, let’s look at the scriptures and see what they are saying

Genesis 2:3 ESV

So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

Luke 23:42 ESV

And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Revelation 14:13 ESV

And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

God’s Rest is described as existing in the past, and the present, and also the future – it seems to be an eternal, timeless place of being

Hebrews 3:18–4:11 ESV

And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’ ” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” And again in this passage he said, “They shall not enter my rest.” Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

We enter God’s rest through “believing submission” not by working to secure it for ourselves

NOTE: This passages expounds on the eternal, timeless nature of God’s Rest, switching back and forth from talking about it in the past, present, and future tense

Psalm 23:4 ESV

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

God’s rest is not an end to work or a removal of danger – it is place of being for the mind and soul – regardless of physical location and condition

In Conclusion…

We enter God’s Rest, first, by believing Him* for Rest and living lives of obedience

*Which means to stop striving to secure rest for ourselves on our own terms

[Challenge] If you’re not experiencing God’s rest, how much of that is due to a lack of trust and obedience? – is it possible God is denying you rest because you won’t trust Him for it?

In this life, God’s Rest is a place of being for the mind and spirit – encountered through prayer, worship, scripture, and being led by His Spirit (Galatians 5)

What is our NEXT STEP?

Create stopping points in your schedule for entering God’s Rest

Practice times of private prayer, worship, and meditation on His word

Discussion Question

What does it say about our Lord and Savior that He provides, even urges us to rest?

*Think about the Sabbath law

Even though resting in God is so good for us, we often neglect it – why is that?

Prayer Point

Pray that God would slow us down and fill us with the desire for His Rest

Devotional Question for the Week

How might you accomplish more, by doing less and resting in God?