Key Verse: “So the heavens and the earth and everything in them were completed. 2 On the seventh day God had completed his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 3 God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it he rested from all his work of creation.” (Genesis 2:1-3 CSB)
Someone once said, “I would rather burn out than rust out.” Neither option seems what God has in mind for us. On the one hand, He has created us to do good works (Ephesians 2:10) and to actively engage in the mission of the kingdom. On the other hand, we aren’t very useful if we have reached the point of complete physical or spiritual exhaustion.
At the beginning of time, God engaged in His creative work. Over the course of six “days” He created the heavens and earth and everything in them. But on seventh day, “God had completed his work that he had done, and he rested” (v.2). God took a break. He “blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it he rested from all his work of creation” (v.3).
Why did God take a “day” of rest? Was He tired and worn out from creating the heavens and earth? Not likely. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth, He never becomes faint or weary; there is no limit to his understanding” (Isaiah 40:28).
Part of God’s purpose for setting apart the seventh day and declaring it holy was to model for us a healthy balance or a proper rhythm of work and rest. It’s not a matter of either/or, but rather both/and. We ought to pour ourselves out for the sake of His kingdom. But we must also observe the principle of Sabbath rest for the sake of our longevity and our relationship with God.
When we stop to rest, we acknowledge our dependence on God. We declare that it’s not about us. It’s not ultimately about what we are doing, but what God’s doing. He will continue to accomplish His will even when we’re taking a moment or a day to stop to catch our breath, and to care for our soul.
The fact is that there is always more work to be done. This includes at home, our jobs, as the church, and in every other area of our lives. In all that we do, we need to “do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people” (Colossians 3:23). But we also need to follow God’s lead when it comes to rest.
True rest is found in the presence of Jesus. Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29). The rest that God calls us to includes spiritual refreshment as we delight ourselves in Him.
Speaking of Jesus, Mark Buchanan wrote, “To spend time with the object of your desire is to emerge, not sullen and peevish, but elated and refreshed. You come away filled, not depleted” (The Rest of God). Is that your experience right now? Are you taking the time to find regular spiritual and physical rest? What might a healthy rhythm of rest look like for you? How can you engage more fully in this important discipline?
Prayer: God, I thank you for the gift of rest. As I draw near to you today, I invite you by your Spirit to refresh and restore me in every way. Fill me with fresh strength and joy to serve you well. Teach me to rely upon you in all that I do. Amen.
Author: Jonathan Miller has served in pastoral roles for more than 13 years in churches in Barrie, Oakville and Burlington, Ontario. He currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Prison Fellowship Canada, a ministry that mobilizes and equips local churches to engage in the restorative work of prisoners, ex-prisoners, their families, and victims across Canada. Jon holds degrees from McMaster University and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He and his wife Adrienne have been married since 2004, and live in Burlington, Ontario with their 4 children. Jon’s greatest passion is to know Jesus and to see lives transformed by Him and for Him.
