Finding Rest

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

FINDING REST

Acts 9:31

31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord

NIV

Two truths are within our sight here. The first is about the peace the church enjoyed, being strengthened, and encouraged by the Holy Spirit. It also grew in numbers as the church, or rather the people of the Way lived in the fear of the Lord. It is interesting the first meaning of the Greek word translated as fear is to be alarmed, or in dread or terror. This would contrast with enjoying peace, or rest as in the peace or rest of Christ that believers should feel. The second meaning is to revere or respect for rank or authority. We have investigated the word peace before and have come to conclude that it means the tranquility of one’s soul, assured of its salvation, thus fearing nothing from God, and is content in whatever situation it is in and with its lot in life. Therefore, their rest in the Lord was because they revered and respected his authority in their lives and so they were strengthened and encouraged by the Spirit. This is the only way we can have the same experience. First, we must yield the authority of our lives to the Lord. This would mean we can no longer have authority over our lives. That is we cannot make our own choices, decisions, or make our own plans trying to fulfill our own desires. We cannot serve two masters, the Lord and self, we will either love the one or despise the other, but we cannot serve both. We know Jesus said this about God and money, but that is the same thing, as in the case with money, it represents all that is the focus is the self, the desires that come from the mind of man. We can find no strengthening or encouragement in the things of the world; those things will only weaken us and cause discontent which leads to envy and jealousy of those who have attained more than we have. No, our only strength comes from the Lord, and our only source of encouragement and our only peace or rest for our souls is the Lord and He has sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within us to bring us all his gifts and fruit to bear in our lives. Let us look to the Lord for all we are, all we have, and all we do and we will be at rest.