This week’s topic is that we need rest. We probably already know this is a physical and emotional reality, but it may surprise us to know God rests, and says we need it too. In fact, he commands rest in the first book of the Bible after God created the universe.
And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. (Genesis 2:2-3 ESV)
A few weeks ago, we saw that God worked, and that we were created to work with him. Now we see God rested. We are also created to rest with him…and share that rest with others.
To help, God gave a rhythm for rest and work. Six days of work, and one day of rest. It’s not equal, as work still outweighs rest. But it’s rhythmic and balances our need for creation and recreation.
God’s rest is the model for our rest. What is God’s rest like?
First, He stops creating. Producing, accumulating, moving, operating.
Clearly his work of sustaining continued – the earth kept spinning and the plants keep growing. But his work of creating takes a pause.
Secondly, he was satisfied with his work. It’s finished. Some things are complete, good, and need to ripen.
We can see these kinds of rest in us today – we need to kick our feet up and stop creating, and we also need to rest by enjoying and appreciating things like nature, art, music and more.
We’ll look in future weeks at how that looks in our context. But we won’t be suggesting this is about a particular day or practice that creates God’s favour and blessing in our lives. It’s about God having created us, knowing what we need, and giving it to us as a gift, if only we’d take it.
Question: What kind of creating do you do? It’s not just artists – people create order, learning, art, ideas, value, research, roads, buildings and more. What do you create?
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CloseRyan Sim - September 2, 2015
Wednesday - Change It - Inner Rest
We’re going to take a quick look at a passage from the Sermon on the Mount today, that we actually explored several weeks ago as part of that series. You can find it here: http://bit.ly/14LRCtP Matthew 6:28-34 ESV says: And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Jesus uses a good analogy – beautiful flowers are clothed in God-given beauty. But our human tendency is to see beauty as the product of our own hard work – we need to toil and spin if we want to be beautiful. We have invented entire industries of fashion, consmetics, pharmaceuticals devoted to helping us work for our beauty. We regularly delude ourselves into thinking it’s all about us, from our beauty to our purpose in this world, and that can make it very hard to rest. It’s so easy to feel guilty – I didn’t do as much as I should have last week, I forgot this, or I am so not ready for Monday. We always think we should be doing more. It can be particularly hard for entrepreneurs – every sale makes or breaks the company, every contact could be a sale. So we stay up at night, or check our phone constantly, or just have our mind on work when it could be resting. True rest means finding ways to put that kind of worry and guilt aside. Tomorrow, we’ll look at one more inner change that helps., then next week we’ll look at some practical hints, but for many this looks like prayer, some kind of different activity, and turning the phone off. Question: What do you tend to worry about when you’re resting? Do you feel guilty about resting, or taking vacation?
Related Topics: Anxiety, Jesus, Rest, Sin, Worry | More Messages from Ryan Sim | Download Audio
From Series: "Work and Rest"
Just in time for summer's blend of work and rest, Redeem the Commute is starting a new series of daily challenges to help busy people restore life to the commuting lifestyle. This seven week series will look at the meaning and purpose of work, rest, and ancient practices that have helped followers of Jesus to keep the two in perspective and balance for centuries.
More Messages From Ryan Sim...
Thursday - Act On It - Becoming Like Family | October 24, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Becoming Like Family | October 23, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Becoming Like Family | October 22, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Becoming Like Family | October 21, 2013 | Interviews | Watch | Listen | |
Friday - Reflect - Friends to Family | October 18, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Friends to Family | October 17, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Friends To Family | October 16, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Friends To Family | October 15, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Friends To Family | October 14, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Partners to Friends | October 11, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Partners To Friends | October 10, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Partners To Friends | October 9, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Partners To Friends | October 8, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Partners To Friends | October 7, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Acquaintances to Partners | October 4, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Acquaintances to Partners | October 3, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Acquaintances to Partners | October 2, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Acquaintances to Partners | October 1, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Acquaintances to Partners | September 30, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Neighbours to Acquaintances | September 27, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Neighbours to Acquaintances | September 26, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Neighbours to Acquaintances | September 25, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Neighbours to Acquaintances | September 24, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Neighbours to Acquaintances | September 23, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Strangers to Neighbours | September 20, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Strangers to Neighbours | September 19, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Strangers to Neighbours | September 18, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Strangers to Neighbours | September 17, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Strangers to Neighbours | September 16, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Neighbours Matter | September 13, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Neighbours Matter | September 12, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Neighbours Matter | September 11, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Neighbours Matter | September 10, 2013 | Extra | Watch | Listen | |
Monday - A New Idea - Neighbours Matter | September 9, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Originality | July 19, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Originality | July 18, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Originality | July 17, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Originality | July 16, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Originality | July 15, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Foundations | July 12, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Foundations | July 11, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Foundations | July 10, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Foundations | July 9, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Foundations | July 8, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Knowing | July 5, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Knowing | July 4, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Knowing | July 3, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Knowing | July 2, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Knowing | July 1, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Influences | June 28, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Influences | June 27, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Influences | June 26, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Influences | June 25, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Influences | June 24, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Golden Rule | June 21, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - The Golden Rule | June 20, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - The Golden Rule | June 19, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - The Golden Rule | June 18, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - The Golden Rule | June 17, 2013 | Extra | Watch | Listen | |
Friday - Reflect - Needs | June 14, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Needs | June 13, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Needs | June 12, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Needs | June 11, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Needs | June 10, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Judgement | June 7, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Judgement | June 6, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Judgement | June 5, 2013 | Short Film | Watch | Listen | |
Tuesday - Study It - Judgement | June 4, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Judgement | June 3, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Worry | May 31, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Worry | May 30, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Worry | May 29, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Worry | May 28, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Worry | May 27, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Priorities | May 24, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday- Act On It - Priorities | May 23, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Priorities | May 22, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Priorities | May 21, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Priorities | May 20, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Forgiveness | May 17, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Forgiveness | May 16, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Forgiveness | May 15, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Forgiveness | May 14, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Forgiveness | May 13, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Self Denial | May 10, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Self Denial | May 9, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Self Denial | May 8, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Self Denial | May 7, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Self Denial | May 6, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pompous Prayer | May 3, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pompous Prayer | May 2, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pompous Prayer | May 1, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pompous Prayer | April 30, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pompous Prayer | April 29, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Generosity | April 26, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Generosity | April 25, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Generosity | April 23, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Generosity | April 22, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Perfection | April 19, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Perfection | April 18, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change - Perfection | April 17, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Perfection | April 16, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Perfection | April 15, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Neighbours | April 12, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Neighbours | April 11, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change - Neighbours | April 10, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Neighbours | April 9, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Neighbours | April 8, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Retaliation | March 15, 2013 | Listen | |||
Thursday - Act On It - Retaliation | March 14, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Retaliation | March 13, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Retaliation | March 12, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Retaliation | March 11, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Truth | March 8, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Truth | March 7, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Truth | March 6, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Truth | March 5, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Truth | March 4, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - The Look | March 1, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - The Look | February 28, 2013 | Watch | Listen |