Sabbath And The Christian (Part 2)

In Part 1 [click], we shared about the true Sabbath is now to be found in Christ alone. The ultimate rest for our souls is to be found in Him. Yet how can we appropriate this in practice?

Firstly, we need to realise that we can find rest in all areas of our lives.

1. FIND REST IN GOD’S PROVISION.

Psa 34:9-10(NIV) 9 Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. 10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

Do not fret, nor be anxious but know that God will provide. Whether it be unemployment, meeting household budgets and other needs. God never backs away from His promises of sustaining us if we continue to trust Him and act righteously.

God never backs away from His promises of sustaining us if we continue to trust Him and act righteously.

I chose to obey the Lord when He beckoned me to stay back in Melbourne upon completing my university degree. That also meant I would need to also find a job to help support my stay here. Jobs were not easy to come by in those days. Yet I chose to pray and trust the Lord for His provision whilst I actively sought for a job. My savings were dwindling fast despite good economical financial management on my part.

God is the Lord of the eleventh hour! He graciously provided me with a job that allowed me time to pursue another practical accounting course and being able to work at flexible hours whilst being paid at a graduate’s rate. How good is that!!

2. FIND REST IN GOD’S GUIDANCE

Jer 29:11 (NIV) For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Prov 3:26 (NIV) for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.

Life is always filled with choices, crossroads of decisions. Hence it is important for us to make good decisions. We need not be unduly troubled by tough, difficult choices when we choose to trust in Him. Let God’s Word guide us, let the Holy Spirit lead us.

It was recession in Melbourne in 1989. I was now married and was looking for a full-time accounting position. God provided me a job in a small manufacturing company. A week into my work there, I was asked to go for an interview in a medium sized company. That sounded pretty lucrative. Yet as I prayed before God, I sensed Him encouraging me to stay in this small company. There was no peace to go for the job interview with a bigger company. I trusted in God’s guidance. Praise God for His goodness in leading me. About six months down the track, the medium sized company folded up and many people lost their jobs. If I had found employment there, I would have ended up like them. I learnt about the importance of being guided by the Lord and finding rest in Him.

3. FIND REST IN GOD’S COMFORT

Some of us may be going through a valley experience. We may be attacked by anxiety or depression when such situations arise. These can be very real. Let us really find our rest in Christ’s comfort through the Holy Spirit. We should lean in into His comfort.

Psa 107:14 (NIV) He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains.

I was looking forward to our first child in 1994. Then on the 36th week of my pregnancy, I discovered that I had contracted the dreaded chicken pox. On top of this, I had developed a secondary infection resulting in extremely high fever and lesions all over my body. I had to be admitted to the hospital and was placed in isolation. Each day was a day filled with nurses (adorned in full protective medical gear as I was highly contagious) coming in to take tubes of my blood for further testing. And consultants coming in to examine me. All day long I felt I was being “shot” at by some “gun” due to the intense irritation of the chicken pox infection. I found out later that they were concerned that I would deliver my baby when there were presenting complications at stake.

Yet God’s Presence was so real to me. Instead of feeling deeply troubled whilst being isolated in the hospital, I virtually felt rested and comforted by the Lord. I spent my days praying and reading through an intercessory/spiritual warfare book by Cindy Jacobs. I thank God that I recovered quickly and finally delivered our first child a few days later when I was no longer infectious. Praise God!!

Jesus is our Sabbath. He is faithful and true to His Word. Let us rest in Him.

PRACTICAL WAYS OF FINDING REST IN GOD:

Here are some quick practical tips on how we may appropriate God’s rest for our hearts.

Persist in prayer. We ought to seek God’s face. For prayer builds faith and trust in God. It deepens our assurance that He is our security.

Psa 27:14 (NIV) Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

Persist also in worship, as it draws you into God’s Presence just like prayer. His Presence can bring a peace that surpasses all understanding. It helps us gain a revelation that God is sovereign. Trust Him and allow Him to be in charge of your life. We should not be a “control freak”, seeking to always be in control. Part of trusting God is to let go and let God.

Part of trusting God is to let go and let God.

Persist in acknowledging God’s Word. God is faithful and He keeps to His Word. Claim the promises in His Word. Recall testimonies of how God got you through previously.

John 10:28 (NIV) I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.

Persist in keeping godly and supportive company. Your godly Christian friends can pray with you and encourage you. They can also be a good listening ear and be good sounding board. They faith, their support can help you trust God more deeply.

Prov 17:17 (NIV) A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Persist in resilience. While you are resting in God, you need to be resilient in casting off doubt, worry, insecurities and the desperate need to be in control of our situation. Don’t let these steal the rest you have in God.

Isa 40:31 (NIV) but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

God’s rest is available for us in Christ. Each day, we have to draw that grace of rest from Him. The more we do so, the more we learn to draw upon this grace.

God’s rest is available for us in Christ. Each day, we have to draw that grace of rest from Him.

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Copyright©️2021 by Wilson Lim & Lai Ling Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.