Is it hard for you to relax, former procrastinators? It’s interesting that we struggle to do that. For me it’s partly because there’s much I want to do – and get done. Partly because I see myself as lacking and feel compelled to make up for my shortfalls. Procrastination makes it worse as intentions and guilt pile up. Do you feel the same?
There are remedies for these tensions. The most important one is trusting Jesus for the salvation of our souls. We can never earn our way to heaven – do enough or make up for our shortfalls. Jesus Christ is the spotless Lamb, holy and acceptable to God. When He died on the cross, His blood made us clean in the sight of God. When He rose from the grave, victorious over death, He brought those who believe Him into life forever. He fills us with His Holy Spirit and power.
If your response is “Yeah, yeah, I’ve done that,” then pause and consider the blessing of HIS work on your daily life.
My friend realized one day in her car, “I don’t have to try any more. Jesus has done it for me. I can relax.” That is the ultimate, genuine rest.
Why His Rest Is Ours
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God…” I Peter 3:18
“He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.” Hebrews 9:12.
For a while we lived where people make animal sacrifices. I remember crossing the street one day as blood flowed down the gutter. Prior to Jesus, the Hebrews made sacrifices over and over again. Sin was always bearing down on them, always making them come up short, always requiring a new sacrifice for another failure.
Jesus takes that away. He is “once and constant.” He paid the price. It was done then; it is done now and for the future. Once and constant.
Rest in Him is our first step in learning to relax. As we walk out our salvation, we learn more about how to relax with our attitudes and daily duties. We’ll look at those this month.
We can be confident because HE, not we, secured our position. Secure with Him now and in eternity, we can learn as we go, confident we are loved and wanted. We can relax in Him and about Him.
How does being secure for eternity take tension out of your daily life?
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