A safe rock in the midst of breakers – Sabbath rest for God’s people

 

An emoji devotional for Mon, 22 August 2022

Topic: A safe rock in the midst of breakers – Sabbath rest for God’s people

By Pastor Hans Wenger

Highlight:

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

We are living in the time Jesus has depicted to his disciples as follows:  “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth-pains.” (Matthew 24:6 –8)

A few years later the Apostle Paul writes to Timothy:  “But mark this: there will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” (2. Timothy 3:1–5).

 With the last sentence Paul made clear that Timothy will already encounter such people in his time. Today they are numerous and because the mainstream media are eager to distribute and propagate their philosophy they appear as the majority, who is belittling, censoring and persecuting the true followers of Christ. They do not want to hear that healing and prosperity is in following the word of God. “Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no-one will perish by following their example of disobedience. For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” After the Israelites had entered the Holy land under the guidance of Joshua it would have been time observe the decrees of the Lord and to live a holy life. However, the people did what they wanted and provoked the wrath of God. Jeremiah 14 gives us a glimpse into a desperate time. The people do what they please, although there is a devastating drought, the ground is cracked and the wells are dry. God tells Jeremiah not to pray for the people, because He does not want to listen. They have to bear the consequences of their disloyalty. When Jeremiah finally desperately exclaimed: “Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies themselves send down showers? No, it is you, Lord our God. Therefore our hope is in you, for you are the one who does all this” (Jeremiah 14:22), God answered him: “Even if Moses and Samuel were to stand before me, my heart would not go out to this people. Send them away from my presence! Let them go!“ Judgment cannot be averted anymore, but nevertheless there is hope.

God tells Jeremiah: “Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them.”

There is no doubt that the ungodly world and the unfaithful church to God, will come into judgment. The good news however is that the rock of ages, Jesus Christ, stands unmovably and victorious amidst the breakers, calling out: ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.“ God’s throne of grace is accessible for every human being, regardless of his or her past, and it is the only place where forgiveness and life eternal can be received. We must turn ourselves and guide our fellow travelers to Jesus and distance ourselves from the deceit of the world. Colossians 3:2-4 teaches us: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

 Brothers and Sisters, we are not far away from entering the rest God has promised to us. Before the terrible Judgments described in Revelation will sweep over the world, God will resurrect the followers of Christ from their graves and will snap the still living away for a big meeting in the air, which will be the beginning of our eternal rest in the presence of the Lord. 

(1 Thessalonians 4:17) is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. “Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (4:18) 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, reveal to me the meaning of your word as you have revealed it to the Emaus disciples. Keep me from deceit and misinterpretations. Thank you, that your word “is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.“ (Hebrew 4:12) I long to enter into your and into my rest. Amen.

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