Taking a little time away from work has been demonstrated to make individuals far more productive at their work. The Bible tells us a lot about rest. In fact, we have rest at the very beginning of creation. God worked for 6 days and “rested” on the seventh (Genesis 2:3). This “day of rest” God demonstrated was mandated by God for his people in the Old Testament (Exodus 20:8-11).

Christians are not bound by Old Testament Laws. There is no command or example of a Sabbath Day for New Testament Christians. However, there is the promise of “The Sabbath Rest” which remains.

Hebrews 4:9-11 describes our Heavenly home as the Sabbath par excellence.

So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has laso rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

That Heavenly rest is our greatest encouragement. But we also have rest and peace here on earth as well.

Christ offered rest to all those who come unto him–Matthew 11:28-30.

Jesus said to his apostles, “my peace I leave with you”–John 14:27. We can learn to be at peace because of Christ’s blessings.

Learning to trust in the Lord brings us peace. Psalm 4:8 says, “I will both lie down in peace and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Isaiah 26:3-4 says, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in Yah, the LORD, is everlasting strength.”

That peace from God is available as we kneel in prayer and trust God to act–Philippians 4:6-7, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

However, a life without God leads to disaster. Following God results in peace (Isaiah 57:2), but “there is no peace for the wicked” (Isaiah 57:21).

As we walk with the Lord, let us learn to seek peaceful rest at his side. Let us learn to take refuge from the world in his arms. Let us look forward to that ultimate and eternal day of rest with him.