The Labor Day Dichotomy
dichotomy: a division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different.
Today, in the United States, it's Labor Day. This is the last holiday of the Summer. For some kids school starts tomorrow, for adults it's [usually] a day off from work & another day to kick back & relax.
Now, most Americans have no problems entering into this rest, but I would dare to say that many American Christians (or Christians in general) still have a problem w/ entering into the rest of Jesus, that is into the finished work of Christ on the Cross.
I find it interesting that in Hebrews 4:11 Paul uses the term “labor into rest” & for some people, it's hard to rest in the Lord, to actually relax in Him.
The Greek word for labor is spoudazō & it literally means to be diligent; the Greek word for rest is katapausis & it means a putting to rest/a resting place.
Grace teacher Andrew Farley puts it like this: “Jesus didn't come to get you to do more or work harder. He came to give you rest!
Jesus calls us to exchange the heavy yoke around our necks for something he said is "easy" and "light." So why are many Christians feeling weighed down and burned out? The simple answer is that we're constantly being told we should "do more" and "be more" for God”
Here are some things that should help you relax in the Lord:
God wants you to rest, to relax.
Take a look at the fruit of the Spirit:
Fruit is produced when you spiritually rest, not when you're trying. Faith leads to relaxation.
Jesus said in Matthew 11:28, “Come unto Me all you who are heavy laden & I will give you rest”.
The Greek word for rest is anapaúō & it means this:
Take a look at the Creation parallel: God did all the work, then placed man in the Garden & said, “relax & enjoy”. Jesus is saying the same thing, “I did all the work, now enter in, relax & enjoy”.
When we relax, we mirror what God did after Creation. The seventh day was literally Labor Day for God, He rested, it was all done & it was good!
Now, I'm not talking about lazy-boy Christianity or a works-salvation. I'm talking about the attitude of spiritually resting in the finished work of Christ on the Cross.
So as you kick back this Labor Day & rest from your work, don't forget to also kick back & rest in the finished work.
Today, in the United States, it's Labor Day. This is the last holiday of the Summer. For some kids school starts tomorrow, for adults it's [usually] a day off from work & another day to kick back & relax.
Now, most Americans have no problems entering into this rest, but I would dare to say that many American Christians (or Christians in general) still have a problem w/ entering into the rest of Jesus, that is into the finished work of Christ on the Cross.
I find it interesting that in Hebrews 4:11 Paul uses the term “labor into rest” & for some people, it's hard to rest in the Lord, to actually relax in Him.
The Greek word for labor is spoudazō & it literally means to be diligent; the Greek word for rest is katapausis & it means a putting to rest/a resting place.
Grace teacher Andrew Farley puts it like this: “Jesus didn't come to get you to do more or work harder. He came to give you rest!
Jesus calls us to exchange the heavy yoke around our necks for something he said is "easy" and "light." So why are many Christians feeling weighed down and burned out? The simple answer is that we're constantly being told we should "do more" and "be more" for God”
Here are some things that should help you relax in the Lord:
- Believe that you're a totally forgiven person no matter what
- Believe that you were crucified, buried & raised w/ Christ
- Let your salvation, your growth & your future be in God's hands
- Feel free to be yourself
- Be transparent about your struggles but don't be defined by them
- Don't project an image of having it all together
- Admit when you're wrong, because it's not a big deal
- You don't have to know if/when God is working
- Don't wake up & put on your “Christian face”
- Be comfortable in your own skin
God wants you to rest, to relax.
Take a look at the fruit of the Spirit:
- Is love going to come from stress?
- Is patience going to come from trying to live the Christian life?
- Is peace going to come from trying to imitate Jesus?
- How is all of this going to come out of you unless you're resting/relaxing?
Fruit is produced when you spiritually rest, not when you're trying. Faith leads to relaxation.
Jesus said in Matthew 11:28, “Come unto Me all you who are heavy laden & I will give you rest”.
The Greek word for rest is anapaúō & it means this:
- to cause or permit one to cease from any movement or labor in order to recover and collect his strength
- to keep quiet, of calm and patient expectation
- (reflexively) to repose (literally or figuratively (be exempt), remain); by implication, to refresh:—take ease, refresh, (give, take) rest.
Take a look at the Creation parallel: God did all the work, then placed man in the Garden & said, “relax & enjoy”. Jesus is saying the same thing, “I did all the work, now enter in, relax & enjoy”.
When we relax, we mirror what God did after Creation. The seventh day was literally Labor Day for God, He rested, it was all done & it was good!
Now, I'm not talking about lazy-boy Christianity or a works-salvation. I'm talking about the attitude of spiritually resting in the finished work of Christ on the Cross.
So as you kick back this Labor Day & rest from your work, don't forget to also kick back & rest in the finished work.
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