Have you ever been in a major drama production or cantata? They are so thrilling to be a part of. High energy, great fun with other cast or choir members, costumes, make~up... the audience, the rehearsals and then the productions.... and then the final performance. So exciting! But then at some point, after the production party ~ it is over.
That is how it is for our family after Easter. When my girls were young we would go over the life Jesus lived that week between what is commonly known as Palm Sunday and Easter. They now go over it with their children. So for our family there is much excitement that week. For me, though I come out of that week walking deeper in God's love, it is almost like that first few days after being in a play or cantata. So quiet and peaceful. There is a time of rest there.
There was another seven plus one day event in scripture, the days of creation. God created for six days to prepare a perfect and lovely world for man to live in. On the seventh day, He rested. The six days from Palm Sunday until the Saturday after the night Jesus was crucified, Jesus was quite busy fulfilling prophecy, taking the keys of death and hell away from Satan that he took from us in the Garden (you know, the one’s Jesus said He would be giving back to us), and preparing a way for us to have that perfect and lovely world back. God was done on day seven in creation and rested. Jesus was done on that Saturday. Oh!!! But wait... the next day God raised Jesus up out of that grave and the power in the spiritual world was transferred back to Jesus and His heirs! After the Holy Spirit was released to begin His ministry here on earth at Pentecost.... then Jesus rested. He rested at the right hand of God, which is where He is now.
The Old Testament seven plus one day was the “day” or time of rest that Adam and Eve were to enjoy ~ forever. The plus one “day” or time of rest in the New Testament is the rest we are now to enjoy ~ forever. Forever started the day we were saved; we do not have to wait for Heaven to rest. We are now in a time of rest and have the same free will Adam and Eve had. A serpent will not approach us and wax eloquent deceptions to us offering us some piece of fruit. He will however hiss things at us to get us so busy that we do not spend time resting in our relationship with, God. There are always things, sometimes important things that keep our schedule, well... scheduled, and often overly so. Resting is a good thing. It is good for us mentally, physically, and is the only way to flourish, bloom and produce the fruit God has entrusted to us to bear spiritually.
Schedule some time daily to rest and to spend time in the Word. It is so simple to do. Make a decision that your relationship with God is important and His Word is treasure worth hunting for. Then take the time to grab your favorite Bible, sit down with a pen and paper and just read, all the while talking to you Father, and listening to anything He is trying to show you. That time will be the best time you spend that day, and the benefits reside in your soul and will manifest out in your life, and bless those around you too!
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus... Ephesians 2:4-6 (NASB)
