We all seek real inner peace. Mankind has been created with a built-in need to be in inner synchronized alignment with our Heavenly Father, Creator God. When we come to such alignment we have real inner peace. Otherwise we live with forms of tension. As a result, tension can issue in levels of fear, anxiety, stress and depression. God, however, created the Sabbath as a type of weekly reset button. It can bring us back into alignment and peace with Him. The world, however, continuously brings us into contention with such a natural and even supernatural mode of peace and refreshing.
RELEVANCE
Reality is, tension erupts and increases when we strive to do what is “right in our own eyes” to satisfy our desires. As a result, we pursue goals that are contrary to God’s. Yes, God created man with free will and agency. Furthermore, he gives us grace when we fail or miss the mark. He desires, though, that we find truth. So this is why Jesus emphasized that we pray that God’s will be done in earth as He has designed and willed it in heaven.
So deep down there lies duality or ambivalence in our innermost being; an inner war you might say. James would call this being double-minded (James 1:8).
It is rooted in mankind’s conflict with God. On that note, consider your innermost values as they would relate with God’s. Furthermore, consider that a source of tension may lie in the battle between some of your human values and goals and God’s values and goals for you. Consider the table below.
|
Human values and goals |
God’s values and goals |
| pursue vain images and desires that glorify self | experience God’s ways, life, purposes and power |
| push, pull and compete to preserve or exalt self | flow, function and align with heavenly purposes |
| indulge in worldly interests to feel good about self | steward, share and sow into others |
| control life: time, space, stuff and others | experience righteousness, justice, grace, truth |
| master life: acquire stuff and rule in a race of time | relate with God and others to experience God’s life |
Seeing God as our Creator-Revealer-Redeemer, we can understand that God ordained the Sabbath as not only a time of rest and refreshing, but a time for us to reflect on two crucial aspects of life: the things He has created and is creating; and things He has redeemed and is redeeming. Beyond looking to the Sabbath as a time of such focus, Messiah Jesus invites you to enter into and participate in the state of His rest (Matthew 11:27).
How so? The apostle Paul provided much encouragement and instruction. He advocated walking in the newness of His life. He explains, “For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection” (Romans 6:4-6). He went a step further, encouraging believers to “be renewed in the spirit of your mind, that you put on the new man which was created according to God” (Ephesians 4:23-24).
REFLECTION
The question is, how do we walk in the likeness of His resurrection? One way is to allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with the life invigorating presence and power of God that you flow in the fullness of His grace. It simply takes earnestly asking and trusting God for it.
REFERENCES
Matthew 11:25-30; Romans 6:1-11; Colossians 3:10-11