The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year—Jesse talks about the wonder of
God's mysterious ways in the lives of people that make up the Christmas
story. Get the JDM App to learn more...
Most of us can remember hearing the phrase “be
seated” on numerous occasions and in various settings. Sitting can
indicate a shift in thinking on more than one level. In the physical
realm, we’re at rest when we’re reclining; in the spiritual realm, we’re
at rest when we believe God’s promises so strongly that all anxiety and
worry vanish. Reaching this state of ease is the highest form of faith
there is.
Being seated indicates a change in posture, from struggling to do something though self-effort to resting in the finished works of Jesus and leaning on Him to provide what we need. When Jesus fed the multitudes, He first had them recline. Reclining put them in a posture to receive. “Then He ordered the crowds to recline on the grass; and He took the five loaves and the two fish, and, looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and blessed and broke the loaves and handed the pieces to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people” (Matthew 14:19, AMPC). When we’re at rest, we’re able to receive God’s Word, be fed, and then share the Word with a spiritually-starved world.
Rest isn’t inactivity—it’s being at peace even while we’re working and doing what we know we need to do. In a place of rest is right where God wants us; it’s in this place where He can begin to bless us and manifest His presence in our lives. Sometimes staying at rest is hard work, especially when the world pressures us to move out of our place of rest. “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief” (Hebrews 4:9-11). Fully believing Him brings us into that place of rest.
Abraham, who was greatly blessed because of his faith, heard God’s promise of a son when he was seated and at rest. “And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day” (Genesis 18:1). This promise came to pass when Abraham ceased his self-efforts and simply believed. God has made many promises to us as well; we receive them when we stop trusting in our own works and instead trust Him.
We can’t be seated if we’re in constant motion. The world is a noisy place, and has a way of keeping us so preoccupied with “doing” that we have no time for sitting and receiving from God. When Jesus visited Martha and Mary, Mary sat at Jesus’ feet to hear Him teach. Martha complained about it, but Jesus commended Mary for choosing wisely (Luke 10:38-42).
“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6, NIV). Born-again believers are already seated in heaven. This level of rest is available to us not because of what we do, but because of what Jesus already did. Shifting our thinking from performing to believing helps us to stay at rest.
There are some things that only God can provide. We see results when we jump off the treadmill of life that the world offers, and stop to embrace the life He wants us to have. “Be still, and know that I am God…”(Psalm 46:10). With His help, we can remain seated and stay still.
For more on how faith in Jesus Christ can bring peace of mind in every circumstance, click on the link below for the three-message series, Knowing God.
http://bit.ly/KnowingGod3messageseries
Being seated indicates a change in posture, from struggling to do something though self-effort to resting in the finished works of Jesus and leaning on Him to provide what we need. When Jesus fed the multitudes, He first had them recline. Reclining put them in a posture to receive. “Then He ordered the crowds to recline on the grass; and He took the five loaves and the two fish, and, looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and blessed and broke the loaves and handed the pieces to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people” (Matthew 14:19, AMPC). When we’re at rest, we’re able to receive God’s Word, be fed, and then share the Word with a spiritually-starved world.
Rest isn’t inactivity—it’s being at peace even while we’re working and doing what we know we need to do. In a place of rest is right where God wants us; it’s in this place where He can begin to bless us and manifest His presence in our lives. Sometimes staying at rest is hard work, especially when the world pressures us to move out of our place of rest. “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief” (Hebrews 4:9-11). Fully believing Him brings us into that place of rest.
Abraham, who was greatly blessed because of his faith, heard God’s promise of a son when he was seated and at rest. “And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day” (Genesis 18:1). This promise came to pass when Abraham ceased his self-efforts and simply believed. God has made many promises to us as well; we receive them when we stop trusting in our own works and instead trust Him.
We can’t be seated if we’re in constant motion. The world is a noisy place, and has a way of keeping us so preoccupied with “doing” that we have no time for sitting and receiving from God. When Jesus visited Martha and Mary, Mary sat at Jesus’ feet to hear Him teach. Martha complained about it, but Jesus commended Mary for choosing wisely (Luke 10:38-42).
“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6, NIV). Born-again believers are already seated in heaven. This level of rest is available to us not because of what we do, but because of what Jesus already did. Shifting our thinking from performing to believing helps us to stay at rest.
There are some things that only God can provide. We see results when we jump off the treadmill of life that the world offers, and stop to embrace the life He wants us to have. “Be still, and know that I am God…”(Psalm 46:10). With His help, we can remain seated and stay still.
For more on how faith in Jesus Christ can bring peace of mind in every circumstance, click on the link below for the three-message series, Knowing God.
http://bit.ly/KnowingGod3messageseries
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