Rest! (May 21)

But now, the Lord my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or disaster.
                                     1 Kings 5:4 NIV

My Webster dictionary has 42 definitions over three entries for the word "rest": a word that can be a noun, a transitive verb or an intransitive verb (Maybe someone can enlighten us about what a transitive and intransitve verb is). The definitions generally have to do with refreshment; inactivity; tranquility; support; reliance; direction or termination; as in the end of the introduction of evidence, eg. resting one's case in a trial.

We have rest from our greatest enemy, death through Christ's death and resurrection on the cross.  Satan is defeated.  Satan's defeat, does not mean that we will not have challenges, adversaries, or disasters as we live our Christian lives.  God's gift of rest will allow us to persevere, to go on, to get through the day.  God's gift of rest is, in a sense what we ask for in the Lord's Prayer when we ask God to "Give us this day, our daily bread."  Jill taught that the bread is the "stuff" that allows us to make it through the day.
We are truly asking God for grace sufficient to make it today.

God gives in abundance and we have read that God is faithful and just and will honor those who honor him, not just today, a day on which some claim is judgement day (I wonder how they know and Jesus does not know: Matthew 21:36-NIV, No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.) but eternally!  You are, in baptism, sealed eternally with the Spirit.

In considering the definitions of rest, a gift from God, one might reflect on another gift from God through the Holy Spirit, the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.  Much rest, and a recharge to allow one to tell the story, can be found in spiritual gifts.

How do you rest?

Where do you find your rest?

How can others tell that God gives you rest?

Pray for those who are being tested by challenges, trials and by infirmities of the human body.

In Christ,

David P