Sabbath rest is about regaining our emotional and physical capital from God. It is the act of stopping long enough to breathe in his refreshing power.– Adam Mabry in The Art of Rest
When salvation comes to your house, first you think differently, then you act differently. First you shift the imagination with which you perceive this world, and then you enact gestures with which you honor it.– Mark Buchanan in The Rest of God
Q/A#14
Q: How many people perfectly keep God’s commandments?
A: No one perfectly keeps God commandments; none live morally upright, but all fail to love God and people.
As it is written:
“None is righteous, no, not one;
no one understands; no one seeks for God.
All have turned aside;
together they have become worthless;
no one does good, not even one.”
– Romans 3:10-12 (ESV)
For Further Reflection
Matthew 22:37-40
Our Response
View ourselves with humility
Repent regularly of our sins
Rest is harder to find in a digital culture because technology has dissolved the two fundamental boundaries that are essential to rest: solitude and silence.– John Koessler in The Radical Pursuit of Rest
The wrath of God was satisfied with the suffering and death of Jesus. The holy curse against sin was fully absorbed. The obedience of Christ was completed to the fullest measure. The price of forgiveness was totally paid. The righteousness of God was completely vindicated. All that was left to accomplish was the public declaration of God’s endorsement. This he gave by raising Jesus from the dead.
– John Piper in Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die
Until he brings justice to victory; and in his name the Gentiles will hope.
– Matthew 12:20b-21 (ESV)
When Jesus returns he will usher in a new day where justice reigns. Not an enforced justice that would require constant fighting, but justice that will flow from each redeemed heart, so that all the world is filled with justice.
A world where there is no more injustice, no more oppression, no more abuse, no more mistreatment, and no more victims. But rather love towards each other, joy in one another, peace towards each other. A world where patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control towards all is an everyday continuous reality.
He will bring justice to victory.
No matter what injustice we may face today, we have a great hope for the future!
Colorado National Monument in Colorado
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
– Psalm 19:1
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature,
have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,
in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
– Romans 1:20
Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:
9 Ways to Guard Your Personal Relationship with God – David Murray (Crossway)
Here are some things that have helped me to keep my personal relationship with God personal and avoid falling into the trap of relating to him only through my ministry to others.
Patterns of Providence – Warren Gage (Ligonier)
Like the underside of grandmother’s cross-stitch,the everyday of our lives may look to be knotted and hopelessly tangled. But when we turn the fabric over, we see design and beauty that was there all along but that we never foresaw. Joseph’s life is like that.
5 Habits to Practice the Presence of God at Work – Justin Whitmel Earley (TGC)
Here are my top five habits for practicing the presence of God in busy and tech-driven offices.
Church Should Be Your Excuse for Missing Everything Else – Grayson Gilbert (Patheos)
We convene with the local church each weekend because we are betrothed, not as individuals, but as a body, to our Lord, Jesus Christ. We assemble together because He has assembled us together. We gather while it is still called “today” because we will be gathered together in His great halls with the believers of all time.
Hope you have a great Lord’s Day with your local church!
Embracing a rhythm of rest means seeing God as sufficient and letting go of your own claim to that attribute.– Adam Mabry in The Art of Rest
Men will never worship God with a sincere heart, or be roused to fear and obey him with sufficient zeal, until they properly understand how much they are indebted to his mercy.– John Calvin
Brian J. Mikul 