Today we continue our series called Breathe. I encourage you to pause and breathe with us today!
Last week we looked at Exodus 31:17b where it says “God rested and was refreshed.” Many us will say I’ve got this!” and begin to move on. I encourage you and challenge you not to do that. It takes time to develop a new rhythm of resting and being refreshed.
We are invited to rest in the finished work of Jesus. II Cor. 5:21 says “He who knew no sin became sin for us.” Jesus not only took on our sin and carried it on the cross but He took on our sin nature. The good news is we “become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.” The pure, perfect, Holy Spirit enters us. Christ the hope of glory is in us.
When you and I became a child of God our debt was paid in full. Our accounts never drop below zero with God. Out debt balance doesn’t go up and down. Jesus paid it off. That doesn’t mean you and I will never do or say anything stupid or sinful. We will.
Do you find yourself in the rat race of life trying to get caught up? “Getting caught up“ is always elusive and is the wrong goal. Let’s shift our focus instead to “being in step with Jesus”. Quit trying to get caught up. Just walk at Jesus’s pace.
I find the pace of Jesus to be restful, even when He is moving quickly. It takes a quiet confidence to rest in the truth that Jesus took care of everything. What were the last two sets of words Jesus said on the cross? First He said, “It is finished.” Then He goes on to say, “Father into your hands I commit my spirit.”
Jesus could say, “It is finished” because He came and fulfilled the law – every last word of it. In Matthew 22:36 Jesus is asked, “What is the greatest commandment in the law?” And He replies, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all you soul, and with all you mind.” And He goes on to say to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Notice this is the law that Jesus fulfills! He knew we couldn’t ever do either one of those things.
This week let’s ask our Heavenly Father, “Please give us a fresh revelation of the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross, that we would rest and breathe deeply.”
