Day 20 - PRINCIPLES OF EMPOWERMENT - Be at Rest Even While you Work
Hebrews 4:1, Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 3 For we who have believed do enter that rest.
The concept of “resting in the Lord” is very important. It is not a posture of doing nothing. It is an attitude of trust towards God. One of the best definitions for the word “rest” as used in this text is, “Using the power of another.” If I am offered a free ride in a limousine to reach a destination, the last thing I’m going to do is get out and start pushing it! Use the power provided. Enjoy the ride!
Israel heard the “gospel” or good news of a Promised Land flowing with “milk and honey,” which is a term signifying abundance and blessing. Numbers Chapter 13 tells the sad story of the 12 spies God sent to look at the land that He told them was blessed. Hint: If God tells you that something is blessed and good, believe Him!
When 10 of the spies saw the giants in the land, they began to complain about the Promised Land, as if God didn’t know about the giants. They also saw themselves as powerless to deal with the giants, which is another problem of not resting in the Lord.
Because they did not “mix faith” with the promise, those 10 spies became fearful and negative. As a result, they did not enter into the rest of the Lord and they caused the nation to miss out on the blessing of the Promise Land for an entire generation.
Let’s learn from the mistakes of those 10 spies and hold to the same confession of the two faithful spies, Joshua and Caleb, who said, “We are well able to overcome them!”
It’s all about whose power you choose to use! Exercise your faith in God’s Word, use His power!
Reflection Question: What does it mean to rest in the Lord?
Key insight I gained today:
Today’s action item based on insight:
