Last Week...REST

SO...last week we continued our study of Hebrews, and looked at the recurrent concept of REST (Hebrews 3-4); specifically what REST meant for the community of Israel throughout their history (pre/post Promised Land), what it meant for the 1st Century community of believers (to whom the letter to the Hebrews was written), and what it can mean for us today (i.e. how we can find REST). It's hard to distill our entire discussion in a few words, but if i were to try, REST can been seen as connected to time/space (e.g. Sabbath as a specific day, Promised Land as a place for REST to take place), as well as connected to one's condition/state (i.e. the possiblity of finding REST along one's journey of faith). As John Calvin wrote, REST can be understood as the "highest human happiness," and this relates to being at peace with God (which can happen at any time in any place, as long as we remain obedient). But since REST is both physical and spiritual, if we emphasize one aspect to the exclusion of the other (e.g. the importance of a specific time or place), we've missed the point. Making space for God in our lives is important, but this is only a vehicle for us to experience REST.

MP