Hebrews 4:2-3
“We received the same promises as those people in the wilderness, but the promises didn’t do them a bit of good because they didn’t receive the promises with faith. If we believe, though, we’ll experience that state of resting. But not if we don’t have faith.”
“For this good news- that God has prepared this rest- has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God. For only we who believe can enter his rest.”
Hebrews equates belief and rest. When we believe, we rest from self-effort. Instead, we trust God, relaxing into his control. Unfortunately, we tend to smother our understanding of belief with our own cultural expectations. Rest evaporates into rules. We lose sight of the expressive diversity God placed within us. As always, the answer is Christ. Rest grows as we allow him to expand into us. There is no need for rules. He takes their place.
Lord, open my eyes to the rules of my life. Take their place. Grace me with growth into the freedom you give. Make me more myself, more responsive to your purpose for me.