SJF - Daily Worship, Spirit and Word - Mar. 11, 2024

One essential work of faith is to labor to enter into the rest that God has prepared for us in Christ Jesus. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”” (Matthew 11:28–30, NKJV)

We are saved by grace through faith and not by works lest anyone would should boast. If earning your salvation through works leads us to boast, the one definition of humility is ceasing from your own works and receiving the works of Christ Jesus that produce salvation and righteousness in you. Faith, therefore, is humbly resting in the finished work of Christ. But faith also strives according to the work of Christ in you. At least the Apostle Paul thinks so, “To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.” (Colossians 1:29, NKJV)

When we come into alignment with what Christ did for us, we receive what Christ does in us. When we align with what Christ does in us, we get to work doing what He is doing.

Laboring to enter His rest produces a fire in us that causes us to align our working with His and we start laboring to do what we see Him do. Said another way; we cease from our labors and enter into His labors. But, because we are doing His labors with Him, co-laboring and co-yoked, we share His power and even the labor is rest. “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.” (Hebrews 4:9–11, NKJV)