Infinitely Greater than the ProphetsInfinitely Greater than the Angels

Infinitely Greater than a Superhero Infinitely Greater than Moses

Jesus

Infinitely Greater Rest

Jesus

Tripping hither, tripping thither,Nobody knows why or whither; …

If you ask the special function Of our never-ceasing motion,

We reply, without compunction, That we haven't any notion!

(from the comic opera Iolanthe)

The foundation of rest is trust in God’s promises.

Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also

have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they

heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not

combine it with faith. (Hebrews 4:1-2)

The ultimate example of rest is God Himself.

Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, “So I

declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ “And yet his

work has been finished since the creation of the world. For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “And on the seventh

day God rested from all his work.” And again in the passage above he says,

“They shall never enter my rest.” (Hebrews 4:3-5)

The acquisition of rest “takes work.”

It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to

them did not go in, because of their disobedience. Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through

David, as was said before: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own

work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.

(Hebrews 4:6-11)

The ultimate test of rest involves face time with God.

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered

and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

(Hebrews 4:12-13)

Jesus provides infinitely greater rest!

• The foundation of rest is trust in God’s promises.

• The ultimate example of rest is God Himself.

• The acquisition of rest “takes work.”

• The ultimate test of rest involves face time with God.

Noon: Rest from Work (Vincent van Gogh)

“Slow me Down, Lord” (Wilfred Arlan Peterson)

Slow me down, Lord! Ease the pounding of my heart

By the quieting of my mind.Steady my harried pace

With a vision of the eternal reach of time.

Give me,Amidst the confusions of my day,

The calmness of the everlasting hills.Break the tensions of my nerves

With the soothing music Of the singing streams

That live in my memory.

Help me to knowThe magical power of sleep,

Teach me the artOf taking minute vacations

Of slowing downTo look at a flower;

To chat with an old friend Or make a new one;To pat a stray dog;

To watch a spider build a web;To smile at a child;

Or to read a few lines from a good book.

Remind me each dayThat the race is not always to the swift;

That there is more to life Than increasing its speed.

Let me look upwardInto the branches of the towering oak

And know that it grew great and strongBecause it grew slowly and well.

Slow me down, Lord,And inspire me to send my roots deepInto the soil of life's enduring values

That I may grow toward the starsOf my greater destiny.