This is Part 2 of 3. In Part 1, I expressed the consternation I had experienced over Scriptures about “resting” and “striving” that seemed like they didn’t fit with each other.
So what do those “resting” verses really mean?
The Lord used several means to help me in my understanding: my Bible studies—especially Galatians, Romans, and Colossians—a sermon, and some key books. Even though I didn’t understand at that time the importance of asking the Holy Spirit to open my eyes to the Scriptures, still He had mercy on me.
The resting (in case you had as much trouble getting it as I did) is NOT about becoming a couch potato, lol.
This article has now been truncated because it has been editing and incorporated into the book . You can find that book here.
***
Go here to download your free Guide, How to Enjoy the Bible Again (when you’re ready) After Spiritual Abuse (without feeling guilty or getting triggered out of your mind). You’ll receive access to both print and audio versions of the Guide (audio read by me). I’m praying it will be helpful.
Oh Rebecca, this contradiction of faith v. striving has enshrouded my spiritual life also. God Himself removed the darkening garment and has been granting me experiences in His faith freedom, and now He’s enriching my understanding as well by the light of His Word. I thank Him for His work in your life. Amen
That’s a blessing to hear, Sandra. Thank you.
Good study Rebecca.
The idea of striving brings the expectation of purity and holiness to the forefront, while rest allows us to see how it is good for us to “draw near to God, I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works” (Psalm 73:28).
Yes, we must strive against the wicked seeking to thwart the truth of Christ. It is very important to understand, as you point out. We are not to strive, fight against yourself in adding to the work of the gospel in our hearts. The Holy Spirit is our Comforter, our Helper against the fleshes temptations. We are called to pursue, be diligent against our flesh.
In respect to our life against the world: we will have to strive in our ‘training in godliness’ because the world disapproves it (1 Timothy 4:10). We sadly have to strive to enter the Sabbath rest because the world works pushes against us in unbelief (Hebrews 4:11).
In respect to our life with fellow believers: We should strive to exhort one another to stay steadfast, fully assured, in the work of Christ and will of God (Colossians 1:29, 4:12).
The idea of striving does bring the expectation of purity and holiness to the forefront for many, but alas, no amount of striving will help us to be pure and holy. All our purity and holiness must come through Jesus Christ alone, as we look to Him.
Regarding striving to enter the Sabbath rest, here’s my extended commentary on Hebrews 4:11. https://heresthejoy.com/2014/08/finding-that-elusive-sabbath-rest/
We are in agreement….
I am stating why we have to ‘strive’ against the world because they want no part of Christ’s purity and holiness.
In respect to the Sabbath rest, the context of the passage clearly points out that Christ is our Sabbath rest. The verse here uses the Greek word for ‘diligence’ that you have been ‘defining’ for us in what in our effort. We must be ‘diligent’ to allow our souls to find their complete rest in Christ. We are prone to wander way from the Gospel truth even as believers that Christ has finished the work so that we can come and draw near to God the Father.
You are bringing out what many have struggled with in the ‘religion’ of Christianity, but find a hard time applying the ‘liberty of the gospel’!
Yes, excellent, thank you!
Sanctification, also called transformation, requires us to rethink how we think. It does not just happen by merely being a serious Christian (whatever that means). It has been wisely said by someone who greatly struggled with a destructive habit that found him in AA, “in church we hear about miracles but in here (these AA meetings) we see them.” Effort is required. Rest becomes easier (more anxious-free, if you will), when we understand and live in the reality that Christ actually does provide all the empowerment we need to live a godly life – but we are responsible to utilize that gift within the kingdom of our own lives; aka, take action, make effort. While grace is not earned, it naturally produces/requires effort of action. But personal change, the partaking of Christ-like nature, cannot happen outside of being a disciple of Jesus – which in today’s culture is not the same thing as profession of faith. Striving and resting do not quarrel with one another, but rather represent the epitome of a life of one following Christ. There’s a plethora of examples from lives of those who’ve gone before, such us Brother Lawrence, and many others whose lives demonstrated the power of the marital relationship between striving and resting/sanctification and transformation.
By “being a serious Christian,” I meant one who actually wants to have a transformed life, who wants to be like Jesus, who wants to experience practical holiness. Sorry I didn’t make that clear enough.
My understanding is that “moral effort” means “trying to be good.” The resting comes in finding out that “being good” is found in Jesus Christ alone, and the striving comes about when we live out of the truth that is already true in our lives, rather than trying to make it more true. Hudson Taylor is an excellent example of this, as I quote in Part 3 of thise series.
So i am here again… reading, searching and asking and trying to understand. But in the “trying” am i striving.??? Lord, help me to see.
You’re asking Him to open your eyes of understanding. “Striving” would be doing works and then saying, “See God? I’m doing a good job, right?” This is different. This is asking for HIM to do the work, within you.