Going in Grace

Brandi Stover (00:01.354)
It's the beginning of a new year. And as I've been doing the past couple of years, I'm reading in Genesis in January. Something always jumps out to me early on, the importance of rest. And it reminds me just how anti-rest our culture really is. Just to give you an example, check out some of the common phrases of our culture. Grind never stops. Hustle hard. Grind or die. Leave no stone unturned. Push your limits. Think about your everyday life. The pace of life just keeps getting faster and faster. All the cues around us are telling us, get to work, work hard, push your boundaries, go, go, go. We have to think about what does the word of God tell us concerning this?

It's important for us to remember that God died for us through Jesus Christ so that we could have rest. Those different phrases in our culture may seem like they're encouraging us to apply ourselves. In actuality, they're encouraging us to work in our own strength. None of these phrases remind us of things like not by might nor by power, But by my spirit says the Lord of hosts. That's in Zechariah 4.6. Or, therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body, more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap, nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you, by worrying, can add one cubit to his stature? Matthew 6, 25 through 27. We are starting a new year. Many of us have fitness goals, career goals, relationship goals, all of the above.

Brandi Stover (02:25.654)
Yet how many of us have decided that in 2025 we are not burning ourselves out? Not physically, not mentally, not emotionally. We should just start this year off with the decision that we will not toil in 2025. We will work, of course. We will apply ourselves, yes. But will we run around in this hustle hard culture acting like it's going to be our efforts alone that get us to our next level? Absolutely not.
Hear what the Bible has to teach us about rest. Genesis 2, 2 through 3, New King James Version. And on the seventh day, God ended his work, which he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work, which he had done. Then God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it because in it he rested from all his work which God had created and made. God, the King of the universe, our creator who needs no rest, demonstrated to us that rest is valuable by resting.

Mark 2, 27, New King James Version. And he said to them, the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath. Jesus makes it clear that the Sabbath, which means to abstain from work, to rest, is something that was created for man. This was created for us. Whatever God creates for man, man should take full advantage of.

Matthew 11, 28 through 30, New King James Version. Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Jesus doesn't want us weighed down and taxed.

Brandi Stover (04:49.868)
He specifically said, if we are labored and heavy laden, come to him so that he can give us rest. I am not saying God wants us to be lazy. Hear me. What I'm saying is we have to consider the work we do, why we do it, and when we do it. Are we trying to be our own source? Or are we trusting in God?

Romans 12:11 to 13 in the message. Don't burn out. Keep yourselves fueled and a aflame. Be alert servants of the master. Cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times. Pray all the harder. Help needy Christians. Be inventive in hospitality.

Did you hear me? This scripture said, don't burn out, keep ourselves fueled and aflame. This means that we should focus more on the spirit and God so that we are charged up on the inside, which positively impacts our abilities on the outside. We're going to have to go counterculture if we want to do things God's way. And if we want to be in one piece when we get to the end of this year.

I want us to revisit these goal lists that we often create at the beginning of each year. Consider which of these goals is going to help you to focus on your relationship with God. Which of these goals is going to help you to grow in your spiritual strength? Which of these goals is going to help you to remember that God is your source this year? If when you look at your list, you become tired, a little anxious, just looking at it, then revisit it. Less really is more sometimes.

I am wishing us all a happy new year, a prosperous new year, a new year where we are going in God's grace. But we have to remember, if we want to walk in God's best, we cannot forget to rest.