One of the most difficult tests of the entire Christian discipleship involves waiting for God when there is something we desire intensely. We always ought to give thanks to God and let our requests be made known to Him. If we do not we may suffer needlessly.

We are not to attempt to smash down the door that is hindering what we think is God's will. Once we break through that door we will find ourselves in an empty room. Had we looked around we probably would have seen another door that was open just a crack.

The Kingdom of God is always associated with patience. God is patient. Christ is patient. And we are predestined to be in Their image.

"Suffering produces endurance." "Let patience work its perfect work that you may be perfect and complete, wanting nothing."

If we will guard the word of Christ's patience He will guard us throughout the hour of temptation that is approaching.

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know suffering produces perseverance; (Romans 5:3—NIV)

Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. (Revelation 3:10—NIV)

The Rest of God

For anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. (Hebrews 4:10—NIV)

The writer of the Book of Hebrews warns his readers, experienced Jewish Christians, to be careful that they do not come short of the rest of God.

Just what is the rest of God? The writer proceeds, in the fourth chapter of Hebrews to present three aspects of the rest of God.

The first aspect has to do with God's work being finished from the beginning of the world.

The second aspect has to do with the Sabbath day.

The third aspect is associated with the possessing of Canaan.

Whoever would enter the rest of God must cease from his own works.

The rest of God is that state of being where we refrain from our own ambitions and do what God is commanding at the moment. The greatest liberty any believer can achieve is the point at which God's greatest desire is his greatest desire. Such a state of rest and freedom is not attained overnight, but it indeed is attainable if we will diligently pursue it.

The rest of God is based on the fact that God in six days created all events, all people, all things, all circumstances, through to the coming down of the new Jerusalem to the earth. Our own life and destiny is a part of the finished work of God.

Then God rested. We are to enter that rest by ceasing from our own plans and looking to God for all we think, say, and do. The Lord Jesus does nothing apart from the Father. We are to do nothing apart from Christ. When we are abiding in Christ, doing His perfect will at all times, we then are in the rest of God, the eternal Sabbath. This is the only kind of life worth living. This is an important part of our Canaan, our land of promise.

To be continued.