Labor Day?

Hebrews 4:11 
Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 

I always thought it was funny that we don’t work on Labor Day. Of all the days in the year, one would expect that we would work our hardest on the day named for working. But that just isn’t the case. Or is it? 

How much rest do we really get on Labor Day? Family parties, cookouts, and special events highlight our schedules. We take a day off from “work” only to add a huge to-do list of, well, work. Don’t get me wrong; I enjoy a good cookout or party, but planning and executing one isn’t easy. In fact, it can be downright stressful and labor intensive. Not quite what we had in mind for a Labor Day-off!

This Labor Day is a strange event for us. We work to rest and our restful day is spent working at resting. Things just got confusing.

What’s the point? Is this really about the work that goes into putting on a Labor Day cookout? Certainly not. This is about our nature as people. We’re workers. It’s what gives us a sense of control, power, authority, and fulfillment. It can also be what fills us up with pride and distracts us from the finished work of Jesus Christ.

As Christians we are called to labor to enter the rest. But what is this rest? Well, it’s the understanding that Jesus has finished the work (John 19:30) and if He has finished the work, then there is no work for us to do. This is our “work” as believers: rest. And, truth be told, this is where we all struggle.

As mentioned before, it’s in our nature to “do” things. We like to have that sense of accomplishment; we like to feel like we did it. But God wants us to know that He did it. When God brought His people out of Egypt, there was nothing that they did. God hardened Pharaoh's heart, God gave them favor on the date of departure, God parted the sea, God rained down bread, God brought them meat; God did everything for them. But the people wanted to work. They wanted to do it for themselves. Enter The Law.

For close to three thousand years God allowed His people to make attempt after attempt to accomplish what He had already intended to simply give them. They struggled with rules and regulations and they broke every one. Finally, God took it upon Himself and sent Jesus to finish the work.

Jesus came to walk with mankind. He healed the sick, raised the dead, made the blind see, cast out the demons from their lives, and provided food for their bodies. Jesus lived a perfect life, fulfilled every last requirement of God’s holy law, took our cross, bore our sins, wore our stripes, and died our death. He embraced His nature, not that of a man, but that of God. He did everything that we were incapable of doing and He did it for us!

Today we have one thing on our to-do list: believe Jesus finished the work. This is the hardest thing to do because we all want to “do” for God. We want to serve, we want to sacrifice, we want to give, but God wants us to rest. (These things are good, but not necessities to gain God’s favor in any way.) He wants you, me, and the whole world population to know that Jesus has finished the work and is sitting down, resting. God wants us to rest in His work.

Know this today, whether you’re looking for a job, a child, a miracle healing, a new car, a friendly dog, or food for the day, God has already provided it for you. He’s made a way through Christ; He’s made Christ the Way.

This Labor Day, work at resting in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Sit down and allow God to bless you supernaturally in every area of your life. It’s not that you deserve the blessing, but Jesus does. You are in Christ; He worked to put you there. As He is so are you in this world. So sit, rest, be complete in Him. Have a blessed, loved, and highly favored Labor Day!