DIVINE REST
Gen 8:1-4
And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters assuaged;
2 The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;
3 And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated.
4 And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.
Rest is what happens after work.
Rest is the reward for a meaningful work done to honest means. You rest from the weary of the job of a day. The Bible says after God had worked full six days creating heaven and the earth and all that is in it He rested. “And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.” (Gen 2:2)
Many people seek rest without doing meaningful work. It does not work like that. Sleep is poison to a slothful man because through the course of most days he would have done but little work. This is why the Bible instructs in Proverbs 24:33-34 “Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.”
Men who rest without doing meaningful work are courting poverty, lack and misery at close quarters. If there is one value thing that I like to commend to you as the second half of this year begins, it is the power and sanctity in dignified labour. This second half of the year, do some good work. Do meaningful work with your hands. Exert yourself a little more. Don’t sit idling about in your office all day long. Don’t be that clumsy folk going from table to table leaving piles of files unattended. Be exceptional.
I remember the charge of Bishop Abioye last year to a band of young men and women who attended a conference where he spoke. Permit me to quote him “Many people are asking young men and women to take it easy. I say to you young men, do not take it easy. Get on the move. Do some decent work. Exert yourself”. Please exert yourself dear reader. A great work ethic always add value to life, it never diminishes any man.
Now let us now examine the dimension of God’s expectation after meaningful work- Rest. You see, when you have worked hard, it is also important to rest. As you may already know; Rest is not just sleep. Many people sleep 7-8 hours each night who have not even one second of rest. Rest is not sleep. Rest is far deeper than sleep.
Second, rest is not the absence of troubles. I would like to be able to tell you dear brethren that the mystery of the cross guarantees an eternal life of bliss without a single day of challenges, but that would be an honest lie. I would like to tell you that being on the side of God saves you from all the problems of life and guarantees a life without challenges but that again would be a lie. The truth dear reader is that even the best of the brethren whose “linen” are immaculate white sometimes experience some of life’s most debilitating challenges. The Bible in James 1:1-2 speaking of the trying of our faith says “ My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”
Your question then would be where then is the rest? -Rest is defined as the peace of God.
As Jesus slept in the inner cabin in Mark 4:35-40, there was a wind. It was fierce and raging wild. Everyone in the boat was seriously frightened while Jesus of Nazareth was having a good sleep. It was in the midst of a great storm but Jesus was unperturbed. The storm could not steal his peace. There are many people reading this piece right now that the storms of life are stealing your peace, I pray for you in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, peace be still.
Rest is the peace of God that passeth all understanding. Many men want to understand the life of other men. They seek to know the source of the strength of others, they even try to know the source of their power. When men succeed in knowing your source and understanding the secret of your secrets, they have unraveled you. Many men are seeking to know the source of your peace may they never succeed in Jesus name.
Dear reader as we enter another half of the year, it is my prayer for you that the Grace of God will find you in all things. I pray that God’s rest will be your reward on every side. May God cause you to have rest on every side.
Wishing you a happy new month.
And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters assuaged;
2 The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;
3 And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated.
4 And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.
Rest is what happens after work.
Rest is the reward for a meaningful work done to honest means. You rest from the weary of the job of a day. The Bible says after God had worked full six days creating heaven and the earth and all that is in it He rested. “And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.” (Gen 2:2)
Many people seek rest without doing meaningful work. It does not work like that. Sleep is poison to a slothful man because through the course of most days he would have done but little work. This is why the Bible instructs in Proverbs 24:33-34 “Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.”
Men who rest without doing meaningful work are courting poverty, lack and misery at close quarters. If there is one value thing that I like to commend to you as the second half of this year begins, it is the power and sanctity in dignified labour. This second half of the year, do some good work. Do meaningful work with your hands. Exert yourself a little more. Don’t sit idling about in your office all day long. Don’t be that clumsy folk going from table to table leaving piles of files unattended. Be exceptional.
I remember the charge of Bishop Abioye last year to a band of young men and women who attended a conference where he spoke. Permit me to quote him “Many people are asking young men and women to take it easy. I say to you young men, do not take it easy. Get on the move. Do some decent work. Exert yourself”. Please exert yourself dear reader. A great work ethic always add value to life, it never diminishes any man.
Now let us now examine the dimension of God’s expectation after meaningful work- Rest. You see, when you have worked hard, it is also important to rest. As you may already know; Rest is not just sleep. Many people sleep 7-8 hours each night who have not even one second of rest. Rest is not sleep. Rest is far deeper than sleep.
Second, rest is not the absence of troubles. I would like to be able to tell you dear brethren that the mystery of the cross guarantees an eternal life of bliss without a single day of challenges, but that would be an honest lie. I would like to tell you that being on the side of God saves you from all the problems of life and guarantees a life without challenges but that again would be a lie. The truth dear reader is that even the best of the brethren whose “linen” are immaculate white sometimes experience some of life’s most debilitating challenges. The Bible in James 1:1-2 speaking of the trying of our faith says “ My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”
Your question then would be where then is the rest? -Rest is defined as the peace of God.
As Jesus slept in the inner cabin in Mark 4:35-40, there was a wind. It was fierce and raging wild. Everyone in the boat was seriously frightened while Jesus of Nazareth was having a good sleep. It was in the midst of a great storm but Jesus was unperturbed. The storm could not steal his peace. There are many people reading this piece right now that the storms of life are stealing your peace, I pray for you in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, peace be still.
Rest is the peace of God that passeth all understanding. Many men want to understand the life of other men. They seek to know the source of the strength of others, they even try to know the source of their power. When men succeed in knowing your source and understanding the secret of your secrets, they have unraveled you. Many men are seeking to know the source of your peace may they never succeed in Jesus name.
Dear reader as we enter another half of the year, it is my prayer for you that the Grace of God will find you in all things. I pray that God’s rest will be your reward on every side. May God cause you to have rest on every side.
Wishing you a happy new month.
