After God completed His work of creation, He rested. He set apart an entire day for it, and made that rest sacred and holy, fully intending His creation– particularly His beloved humans– to bask in that relationship of rest with Him.
When Jesus died, He proclaimed “It is finished.” The Lord of the Sabbath completed the work of redemption, and transposed His holy, everlasting rest over everything.
Living apart from the promises of God, we strive to survive by the sweat of our brows, by our worry. Who will take care of us unless we do?
Becoming aware of His promise gives us hope. Becoming aware of Him gives us peace. It turns out that all of our business is really His business, and the way He does business is restful.
If we strive for anything, let’s strive to bring our focus back, over and over again, to the One whose yoke is easy, whose burden is light. His life is a life of rest, and it is holy… and it's for you.
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“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
“And he said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.’” Mark 2:27, 28
“…Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.” Hebrews 4:11