This poem was inspired by Hebrews 4:9-11, which reads,
“There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.”
As I was meditating on these Scriptures one day, I began to think about the phrase, “Be diligent to enter that rest.” This wording seemed to completely counter the way the world works and also the way we work as people, generally speaking. It almost sounds like a contradiction to be diligent to rest in the Lord, yet it’s what we’re exhorted to do in the book of Hebrews.
Human instinct often dictates that we want to feel worthy of something and that we’ve earned it. Salvation is not something we can earn, however, it’s a gift from God through Christ’s efforts, not our own. In other words, when it comes to having peace with God, we have to fight against our human instinct to rely on our own efforts and instead trust entirely in the work of Christ.
As challenging as this concept is, it’s incredibly liberating when embraced. Jesus gives us so much to rejoice over, and after pondering these verses for a while, my grateful heart soon began to overflow with poetic praise once again!
Be diligent to rest in God; oh may our striving cease!“There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.”
As I was meditating on these Scriptures one day, I began to think about the phrase, “Be diligent to enter that rest.” This wording seemed to completely counter the way the world works and also the way we work as people, generally speaking. It almost sounds like a contradiction to be diligent to rest in the Lord, yet it’s what we’re exhorted to do in the book of Hebrews.
Human instinct often dictates that we want to feel worthy of something and that we’ve earned it. Salvation is not something we can earn, however, it’s a gift from God through Christ’s efforts, not our own. In other words, when it comes to having peace with God, we have to fight against our human instinct to rely on our own efforts and instead trust entirely in the work of Christ.
As challenging as this concept is, it’s incredibly liberating when embraced. Jesus gives us so much to rejoice over, and after pondering these verses for a while, my grateful heart soon began to overflow with poetic praise once again!
Enter into blesséd ease and find an inner peace.
Work not to gain acceptance; strive not to earn His love.
Oh child of God, it is a gift He granted from above!
Be diligent to rest in Christ, God’s one and only Son.
His labour on the Cross declares that now the work is done!
Find repose in Jesus, the One who conquered sin.
Glorify your risen Lord and boast in none but Him!
Be diligent to rest in God and cast aside the lie
Our efforts can improve the work achieved by Christ on High!
Our Saviour hung upon that Tree, declaring, “It is finished!”
We cannot touch perfection and not render it diminished!
Be diligent to rest in God; take quiet contemplation.
Be at peace and live for Christ, who bought our soul’s salvation!
Do not return to drudgery, to struggle, or to strain.
Dwell in sweet serenity and praise His Holy name!
Be diligent to rest in God; oh fight for it, dear one!
This privilege should not be shunned, for it was sorely won.
May it captivate the heart now beating in your chest.
Oh treasured one of Jesus Christ, be diligent to rest.
Ephesians 2:6-9
“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
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