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Did God, exhausted by the exertion of six days of creating our universe, exclaim, "Thank Me it's Friday"? Hardly! So in what sense did God rest? We've been considering physical rest. But the author of Hebrews also uses social rest—missed out on by the wilderness-wandering generation, and realized under Joshua—to launch a discussion of spiritual rest.

Genesis 2:1-3; Hebrews 4:9-11

1. If the word holy means "set apart," in what sense was that true for the seventh day of creation?
2. How did God model the appropriateness of bringing tasks to completion?
3. What is blessed about resting?
4. As the Israelites anticipated rest and peace in the Promised Land, we look forward to a heavenly home. But do we need to wait for the next life to enjoy this state?
5. If Jesus has provided our rest through faith, why must we "do our best to enter that place of rest"? Have you appropriated God's gift of salvation rest?
6. How are you appreciating and benefiting from the rest God has already provided?

Ask God for a sense of soul rest based on a secure relationship to Him, awareness of His presence, and trust in His protection and provision.

1 So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed. 2 On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. 3 And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.

9 So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. 10 For all who have entered into God's rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. 11 So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.

Copyright © 2007 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine. Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

Help me, Lord, to rediscover the rhythm that You built into Your universe for our benefit.

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