DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

THE REST FOR JUDGMENT DAY

What do you feel when you know that God is judging you. It’s uncomfortable. You can get good at hiding your personality deficiencies from the examining eyes of other people who might be judging you with: “What a nice person! I like him/her.” Part of the foolishness of our human thought process is that we think we can hide from God and point him to our good points, like we do successfully with our friends and acquaintances. “See, God…I go to church on Sundays. I haven’t murdered anyone. I’ve been faithful to my spouse. I’m patient with other drivers in the Village. I’ll even tell you I feel sorry for my sins. You can pass me by and go judge those ‘bad’ sinners.”

God judges us! You can’t hide from God. “There is no creature hidden from God, but everything is uncovered and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we will give an account.” (Hebrews 4:13) If you don’t believe there is a God, it makes no difference, you will be judged. If you read or listen to the Bible, your conscience experiences how God’s Word is living and active. Like a sword it penetrates, even being able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart. (4:12) One day God will judge everyone on whether they trust in Jesus or reject him. Heaven or hell: which will it be for you?

God’s law and your feelings of guilt and shame will STRESS you out! It’s hard work when you are trying to feel better about yourself. Keep the 3rd commandment a little better because you think that it’s all about going to church on Sunday? Convince yourself that God doesn’t see or is supposed to forgive you, so nothing to worry? “Work?!” as Maynard G. Krebs of the old Dobbie Gillis show (1959-63) used to yelp. (He hated work)
How does the writer of the book of Hebrews encourage us? “There remains a Sabbath-rest for the people of God.” Avoiding God’s judgment and being saved is not a matter of us sinners working more to please God. How does Jesus bring us peace? “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest...I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28)

Jesus pointed to his approaching death on the cross where he would finish completely, on his own, the work we cannot do: remove the guilt of our sins and pay the bill our sins demand. He said, “Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out…" (John 12:31) God judged everyone when Jesus died on the cross and declared, “Not guilty.” Here’s your rest. You rest in peace when you come to a Christian church service and listen to the Gospel of Jesus.

Come, worship with us on Sundays at 10 am.