August 2012: Resting

In the holiday month of August we are taking the opportunity to learn about resting. We rest from work, and that includes God’s work, in order to rest in God and in his presence. There is inside us a yearning for this liberating rest, found often in quiet places. This rest is, however creative, leading to good works and a foretaste of our eternal rest. There are nine particular passages which cover these aspects of resting. In Exodus 31 (Thu 2 Aug) we are commanded to rest from God’s work. “You must observe my Sabbaths. … so that you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy” In Mark 6:7-32 we are invited to find rest in quiet places. “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest” In Isaiah 30:1-18 (Thu 9 Aug) there is the hope of liberating rest. “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.” In Hebrews 4 we are encouraged to enter our eternal rest. “Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.” In Psalm 62 (Thu 16 Aug) we are encouraged to find rest in God alone. “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him” In Mark 2:23-3:7(Sun 19 Aug) we are challenged to rest and do good. “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” In Psalm 55(Thu 23 Aug) we look at our yearning for rest. “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest” In Genesis 1:1-2:3 we look at creative rest. “And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” In 1 John 3 (Thu 30 Aug) we find rest in God’s presence. “This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence”