REST IN GOD’S LOVE!

Main Text: Isaiah 30:18; Romans 8:31-39; 1 Corinthians 13:8,13.                     Memory Text:“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of God of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (Jude 1:21 KJV).             

                                                                                       

          Have you ever heard someone make a statement like this: “I need to take some rest…” probably you’ve said that too. Usually people make such remarks when they feel tired or exhausted to imply that they would feel better after taking some ‘rest’. Rest makes you refreshed, renewed and strengthened, that explains why your mind and body feels stronger at the beginning of the day than later, because you started out from rest. When you wait upon the Lord, when you rest (stay) in His Word, He renews your strength (Isaiah 40:31). You were designed to operate from a standpoint of rest. God is at rest and everything He does is from that position. You too can carry out everything you do from the position of rest, and thus your efficiency is guaranteed.    

          Remember God created everything first, then He created Adam, so Adam’s first day was the beginning of God’s holiday (of rest). The works were finished before Adam showed up. Also, Jesus your Lord came and paid your debts, died for you and was raised again, fulfilling for you all that was required of you. Then He ascended into heaven and He’s resting at the right hand of God the Father. When you received Him as Lord (Master), you received all that He did for you and you were instantly ushered into His rest. Your first day was a day of rest and for the remainder of your life that rest is your portion.

          God’s Word Gods’ instruction to you. He says: “Keep yourself in My love, the love that I have for you and watch out for My mercy” (Jude1:21paraphrased). So, I know what to always expect, God’s mercy and goodness!

          You are responsible for keeping yourself in this environment of rest called “the love of God”. Just like the Garden of Eden was where God wanted Adam to live and function, so is “the love of God” where wants you to live and function. Understand this-God is love and you are in Him. Now, listen to what He says: “And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy…!” (Isaiah 30:18Ampl.) Do you know someone who is earnestly waiting for an opportunity to pour out kindness, goodness and love on you, that’s God!

          So, how do you keep yourself in God’s love? By getting to know how much He loves you, how rich is His kindness towards you. The more you believe the love God has towards you, the more of it you will experience in your life. Believing means accepting something as true, but you can only accept as true what you know, so get to know more of God’s heart of love towards you. John the Apostle said: “And we have known and believed the love that God has for us…” (1John 4:16). When you know the love of God, you’d believe it and when you believe it, you’d rest in it. So, believing is resting! And when you truly believe, you’d speak out what you believe.

           Maybe you are in the middle of something difficult right now, remember Isaiah 30:18, God is waiting for an opportunity to bless you, so invite Him, put a halt to the worry and begin to thank Him for your victories, worship for the solutions, praise Him for the supply of your desires.  May God’s peace fill your heart today.

 This is your season of rest, so REST!

PRAYER:  Dear Father in heaven, I thank you so much for your kindness, goodness, mercy and grace towards me. Thank you for bringing me into your love and making me the focus of your loving-kindness. I open up my heart to know, believe and rest in the love that you have for me. And I declare: my life is an unending testimony of God’s love; surely God’s life, prosperity, favor, goodness and mercy overflows in me all my days on earth in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.