Brian Trenhaile's Blog

Resting In Christ

What are the practical aspects of “Resting in Christ?”  It has a lot to do with relationship.  It also involves simply believing in and walking in the “Finished Work of Christ.”  It involves grace, the power and ability that God gives to a believer at salvation and continues from thereon in the life of a believer. 

Relationship is a foundational aspect of entering His rest.  Jesus said “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good—not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne” (Matthew 11:28-30, AMP).  These same verses very well put in another version: “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly” (Matthew 11:28-30, MSG). 

Understanding the finshed work of Christ greatly facilitates resting in Him.  The finished work of Christ in a nutshell is described in the following scripture.  Paul said “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (I Corinthians 1:30, NKJV).  Notice that is it is a work that God has done.  It is God who puts the believer in Christ Jesus.  The finished work involves having Christ’s wisdom, which was greater than that of Solomon.  It involves having Christ’s righteousness so we can stand before God without any fear or shame.  It involves having Christ’s sanctification (being set apart, holy and pure for God in Him).  It involves benefitting from Christ’s redemption so we no longer are subject to the slavery of sin and death.  Paul said “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2, NKJV).

Practically benefitting from His finished work has a lot to do with personally identifying yourself with Christ’s death, burial and resurrection.  In other words “I died with Christ, I was buried with Christ, I rose with Christ.”  These are all past tense terms.  Paul put it this way “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.  I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain” (Galatians 2:20-21, NKJV).  Here the apostle has personally identified with His death and indirectly identified with His ressurection and is stating that his righteousness if by grace and not works of the law.  In essence Paul is resting in the finished work of Christ.

Are we qualified to benefit from the finished work of Christ?  Yes we are God qualifies us to benefit from the finished work of Christ.  “Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God’s holy people) in the Light” (Collosians 1:12, AMP).  Christ finished work also qualifies us for every promise of God as the following verse illustrates.  “For as many as are the promises of God, they all find their Yes [answer] in Him [Christ]. For this reason we also utter the Amen (so be it) to God through Him [in His Person and by His agency] to the glory of God” (II Cor. 1:20, AMP).  Jesus qualified us for all the promises and shares His own inheritance with us!

So just be who you are in Christ.  You don’t have to try to be what you already are.  Simply accept and live by God’s view and opinion about who He says you are and you will be resting in Christ.

Just Added Article “Our Purpose.”

Our Purpose, by Brian Trenhaile, MTh. Our purpose, both individually and collectively, is to be in fellowship with God. Our purpose also includes reaching out to others so that they too can be in fellowship with God.

God’s Presence

Meditating on Psalm 140:13 which says: “Surely the righteous shall give
thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.”  Then
thinking that Christ gave me His righteousness and sanctification (holiness,
see I Cor. 1:30) so because of Christ I dwell in God’s presence.  That’s
also what Romans 5:1, 2 says “Therefore, being justified by faith we have
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom also we have access
into this grace wherein we stand.”

Updates to Scripture Jewels Site

Worked on the art side of the Scripture Jewels website (www.scripturejewels.com). Put scriptures on scenary photographs and linked them back to the source constributing the pictures (www.digital-picture-gallery.com). It looks a lot better now IMHO.

Humility a Common Theme

In my devotions today came accross Isaiah 2:11, 17 (NASB):

    ¹¹The proud look of man will be abased
         And the loftiness of man will be humbled,
         And the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.

      ¹⁷The pride of man will be humbled
         And the loftiness of men will be abased;
         And the LORD alone will be exalted in that day,

It reminds me of what Solomon said in Proverbs, more than once he said “Pride before the fall.”

Looking at my own power and ability is not going to cut it.  I will be looking at God’s power and ability to flow through me.  This is my prayer.