Christian… Do you find yourself tired, burned out, exhausted trying to live a life that pleases God? Ironically, if this describes you the problem might be a failure to truly understand the implications of God’s amazing grace.

In the creation narrative, we’re told God rested after completing His work. This seventh day would be commonly known in the Bible as the Sabbath. And yet, the interesting thing is that we only have two recorded instances of God actually resting.

Obviously, He rested on the original seventh day; however, this rest didn’t last long. As an immediate consequence of the fall, when man sinned thereby separating himself from his Creator, God ended His rest and busied Himself with the work of redemption!

But there is a second Sabbath Day in which God rested… While the religious, Jewish world ceased from their work in a failed attempt to earn God’s favor, we’re told in the Gospel’s that it was on that same Sabbath Day Jesus was laid to rest in a Garden Tomb following the completion of His work on the cross of Calvary.

You see the original seventh day was sanctified by God because of what it would come to represent… The Sabbath served to be a reminder that the only way any of us would ever be able to find rest with God would be through a restored relationship with Him made possible only through the completed work of Jesus!

Rest for the weary and peace with God is not something you’ll ever be able to achieve through your work… Instead rest is only found when you cease from working and simply enjoy the favor you’ve been given through Jesus. Friend, grace really does change everything!