The heavens and the earth were completed with everything that was in them. By the seventh day God finished the work that he had been doing, and he ceased on the seventh day all the work that he had been doing. God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on it he ceased all the work that he had been doing in creation.

Genesis 2:1-3 NET

When he had received the sour wine, Jesus said, “It is completed!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

John 19:30

The Son is the radiance of his glory and the representation of his essence, and he sustains all things by his powerful word, and so when he had accomplished cleansing for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Hebrews 1:3

God rested on the seventh day because He had completed the work of creation. There was nothing left to do. In fact the word “Sabbath” means to cease. The Jews were commanded to cease from their works on the seventh day because God had completed His. They were to take one day to contemplate the wonder of what He had done and how He had blessed them. Not a bad idea!

Jesus sat down at the right hand of the Father because He had finished His work of redemption. Have you ever thought about all that is already yours because of what He did? Take a moment. Stop your work, mental and physical, and be thankful for what’s already been done:

• For Christ is the end of the law, with the result that there is righteousness for everyone who believes. (Romans 10:4)
• He has destroyed what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness expressed in decrees opposed to us. He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. (Colossians 2:14)
• giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light. He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:12-14)
• But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, even though we were dead in offenses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you are saved! – and he raised us up together with him and seated us together with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, (Ephesians 2:4-6)
• For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. (Galatians 3:26)
• He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we may cease from sinning and live for righteousness. By his wounds you were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)
• So as you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight, you yourselves, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood and to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:4-5)

The list could easily go on, but hopefully you get the point. The work of redemption is finished. Jesus now sits at the right hand of the Father and lives forever to intercede for us. It may seem trivial to some, or religious bondage to others, but there is glory and power in stopping what we’re doing to give thanks to Him for what He has already done. It is finished. We can, must, should turn from our own works and rest in His. Let’s do it this Sunday!

But since we have the same spirit of faith as that shown in what has been But since we have the same spirit of faith as that shown in what has been written, “I believed; therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak.

2 Corinthians 4:13

Say it out loud: Lord, I have the spirit of faith, therefore I speak what I believe. You brought an end to the law as a means of righteousness. Because of your great love You saved me from death. You took away my debt for sin and nailed the whole thing to the cross. You have qualified me to receive the inheritance of the saints. You delivered me from the power of darkness, sin, and Satan. You transferred me into your very own kingdom. I am redeemed. I am forgiven.

You raised me to sit with You at the right hand of the Father and to share in your life. You made me a child of God and empowered me to live a life of freedom and right living. I am healed by your stripes. I am now part of your spiritual house, a holy priest offering you the sacrifices of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving. Thank you, Jesus!

Selah!