“For he that is entered into His Rest, he has also ceased from his own works, as God did from His.”

Hebrews 4:10

True restfulness is found in God’s faithfulness.

Laboratory rats on treadmills.  That’s the way so many see themselves these days:  Monotonous, mundane routines.  Or, just the opposite:  Speeding through life with great motion and commotion but going nowhere.  And, getting wearier by the minute.

That’s why today’s Manna is for all those who are crying “Will someone please stop the world?  I want to get off!”

The writer of Hebrews knew his readers were undergoing persecution.  And, like a shipwrecked passenger at sea they were simply trying to keep their heads above water—i.e., simply survive.  Yet, in the process they were being tempted to throw away their faith (recant) by saying “Caesar is Lord.”  And, that’s why he wrote “Let us, therefore, fear, lest a Promise being left us of entering into His Rest, any of you should seem to come short of it” (4:1).

Just as the Israelites refused to enter the Promised Land because of “hardened hearts of unbelief” (Heb. 3:8, 15-19), so will statements like “I know what God said, but. . .” also do the same to us.  Truly, we “always err in our hearts when we depart from His Word, Will and Ways” (3:10), which both grieves and angers Him (3:10a, 11, 17).

That’s why God’s Word/Promises will not “profit us if it’s not mixed (Grk. ‘sugkerannumi’—‘co-mingle together with, combine, assimilate, temper together, etc.’) with faith in them that heard it” (4:2).  Or, another way to put it is, “putting our faith into action by putting feet on our prayers.”

When we take God at His Word. . .and rest in “Who He is and what He has promised” (Heb. 11:6; I Cor. 10:13). . .we’re able to quit worrying and start trusting instead.  We don’t worry about the future because He holds it; neither do we worry about the past, because He’s forgiven and forgotten it if we’ve confessed and repented of those sins and are trusting Jesus’ Blood to “cleanse our conscience from dead works so we can serve Him, the living God” (Heb. 9:14).  Hallelujah!!

Have you got a big decision coming up, Pilgrim, that’s weighing heavily upon your heart?  Are you tossing and turning at night. . . finding it hard to sleep. . .because you’re thinking about all the “what if’s” that “might” happen?

If so, “let go and let God.”

It’s all about surrender.  Trust.  Positive relinquishment, not passive resignation.

As Corrie ten Boom said, “It’s never wrong to trust an unknown future to a known God.”  Glory!!  And, as the ‘ole Gospel song says, “Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him at His Word.  Just to rest upon His Promise.  Just to know ‘Thus saith the Lord’.”  Amen and amen.  So, go forth today in faith, not fear, weary one.  Our sparrow-watching, hair-counting, tear-counting God has His Eye on you and knows your needs.  Trust Him.  He’s faithful.

By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated December 17, 2010