His Rest is not a “Break”
Okay y’all, blame this one on Bonhoeffer.
He says that the biblical reference to rest means more than “taking a break. It means resting after completion” (p. 26).
Wait. Let’s read that again.
Rest = rest after completion, not a break between activity
On the surface, we consider our modern-day view of rest. It’s the cessation of activity, the pause to our day-to-day lives, and the temporary escape from routine and responsibility to restore the body, mind, and soul from fatigue and other cares.
If we follow Bonhoeffer and take a closer look, then we think about Hebrews 11:3
…the worlds were prepared by the word of God (NASB).
Rest is the state of peace the world is in because of God’s creative process (not the chaos we created). Bonhoeffer says God’s rest is the rest of a Creator, not a lethargic or lazy God. He’s the Creator who completed His work. And His rest is our rest.
So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. – Hebrews 4:9 NASB
This blessed me… What is your view of rest? Is it to unplug and lean toward lethargy? Or, is it the rest of God that can look at what you completed, and say It is good?
Just a thought… God even gave us a model for rest. We do not abandon who we are, even in rest. But as His creation, we benefit from the freedom and goodness of the creation process…and get this:
in our rest we get to BE…FREE and GOOD.
Selah, and love to all.
Reference: Bonhoeffer, D. (1906-1945). I want to live these days with you: A year of daily devotions. (O. C. Dean, Jr., Trans.). London, England: Westminster John Knox Press.
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The Bereans' Commentary with Shaunta D. Scroggins, Ed.D. 