Your homework is to read Romans 8 this week. Think about it and receive from it. I want to share some of it now though.
Romans 8:1-4 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.
Romans 8:15-16 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.
Romans 8:31-39 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one – for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one – for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loves us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below – indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So, no matter what happens…You can rest knowing that you’re always desired and loved by the One who knows you most intimately. The One who knows the worst of you and also your full potential, loves you and always will. You are the only one who prohibits yourself from receiving God’s love. His love is waiting, but you must have a response to him in a personal and active way.
You will always be exhausted from searching for belonging and purpose, if you do not rest in God’s love. You can never experience true peace unless you meet with the very creator of peace. Your life will feel empty and void until you meet the giver of life.
God is beckoning us to go deeper into knowing his character and experiencing his love in a life-changing way. God is beckoning us to rest by understanding and receiving his love. Will you try to rest by taking care of yourself, or will you trust that God desires the best for you? Will you remember to stop and intentionally pursue God when you feel overwhelmed? His love is the greatest gift we have ever been offered, but we so often reject it because we feel unworthy. This striving prevents from receiving true rest. But God is calling you to take the gift of his love because you have not disqualified yourself from it. It is waiting.
Lysa Terkeurst said, God’s love is not based on me it is simply placed on me.
This has changed my perspective since the very first time I heard that. I must remember that I can rest knowing that God’s love is deep enough to dive into every day, it is pure enough to never give up on me, and it is radical enough to be given to me even though I won’t ever deserve it.
I hope this has encouraged you in some way as I've shared what the Lord has been teaching me about rest and his love. I would love to hear any thoughts you have on this topic. You can leave a comment or contact me. My email is brookethompson96@gmail.com
<3 Brooke of Love