Labor to enter into rest

Heb 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.


Rest G4520 (Greek)
sabbatismos
sab-bat-is-mos'
From a derivative of G4521; a "sabbatism", that is, (figuratively) the repose of Christianity (as a type of heaven): - rest.


Works- G2041 (Greek)
ergon
er'-gon
From ergo? (a primary but obsolete word; to work); toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication an act: - deed, doing, labour, work.


Labour- G4704 (Greek)
spoudazo
spoo-dad'-zo
From G4710; to use speed, that is, to make effort, be prompt or earnest: - do (give) diligence, be diligent (forward), endeavour, labour, study.


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There is a rest to the people of God. God's people will have a rest and that rest is found in Christ at His return. The rest isn't promised to us now. We aren't told that we will find peace here and now on earth. When we think of resting we think of peacefulness don't we? Can you truly rest without peace around you? Peace and quiet go hand in hand. Peace in our minds free from the stressful things that wear on us. Jesus tells us this-- Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Mat 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Mat 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.


Yes, there is a rest for those who are God's and it comes by faith in God to do as He said He would do. There is a rest that is promised us when Jesus comes again and there will be no more tears or fears in our lives.


These verses-
Heb 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.


We must labor- we must make an effort, we must be earnest, we must be diligent and endeavor to enter into THAT rest. It seems somewhat contradictory doesn't it, that we are to labor to enter into rest. But in truth we have to be earnest about our faith in God, we have to endeavor to know Christ fully, the effort we make is to keep Christ before us always and not ourselves first. Our diligence must be to love God first and foremost and love our fellowman. When we aren't striving, when we aren't labouring, when we aren't making the effort to put God and our fellowman first we are only looking out for ourselves and that selfishness is a dishonor to God's will. Making God's will first is the effort we must make to enter into His rest. We can't save ourselves that is a gift from God by the grace and mercy of Jesus through the ultimate sacrifice He made on the cross. We must repent and accept that sacrifice obtaining the grace of God and it's something we must do daily. Our lives must revolve around God and if they don't then nothing else matters.


Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.


In all our ways we have to acknowledge Him and if we can't acknowledge Him in the way we are going that tells us something doesn't it? May God bless us and help us through the Holy Spirit here on earth to labor to enter into the rest that will be ours in Christ. By the will of God in Him always now and forever.


Amen.