Right of first refusal

PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Psalm 95

What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?

“So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’” (Psalm 95:11)
The Lord made a promise to care for his people and give them rest.
But for some odd reason they kept refusing that rest, and looking elsewhere.
If you read v.11, it sounds like God is having a tantrum.
The word for anger is the word for ‘nose, nostril or face’, where our emotions are seen.
In other words, the Lord’s pain and frustration were written all over his face.
The Lord will not force us to accept the gift of rest if we don’t want it.
We are invited, even urged, to come to the Lord to find rest (Matthew 11:28-30).
But we are also free to reject it, and God promises (“on oath”) to respect that.
If we don’t want to receive God’s rest, we will not enter God’s rest.
I see Jesus pleading with people to come to him, and his pained heart.
“How often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks
under her wings, and you were not willing.” (Matthew 23:37)

The invitation stands: trust in Jesus and you will find grace, mercy, peace and rest.
Yet the Lord also promises to honour our response; if we don’t want it, we won’t get it!
PRAYER
Lord, I sense your deep pain and sadness when people refuse your amazing offer of love. I know you won’t force me to accept, but please help me to want to accept, and to experience your rest!

2 Comments

  1. ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my ways.’ Neglecting and forgetting about God – living without regard to the God’s intent for me – as His child – I will lose my way. The Psalmist – come now and worship – acknowledge God- let Him through the HS be a part of my life – so that I won’t go astray and if I do – not for long! Lead me, Guide along the way… IT is the only way to know the way of Jesus!

  2. Hearing the voice of the Lord.
    Seeing His presence everywhere.
    Once again I greet the Lord this morning and pray for His guiding hand. He continues to lead me and guide me in the Way I need to walk. Open my heart Lord and help me to see You each day anew with ears to hear You and eyes to to see You. Today is also a day You have made and I need Your presence in all I do and say. Today once again I will walk in His Sonhine.

    This is the day, this is the day
    That the lord has made, that the lord has made
    I will rejoice, I will rejoice
    And be glad in it, glad in it

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