The Rest of Grace
Entering into the
Wonder of the Christian Life
By Wayne Barber
Reviewed by Pat Beaty
What a captivating title! It caught my interest immediately
and I bet it has caught yours, even if you don’t normally read a lot. The author of this work is a pastor/teacher
at Woodland Park Baptist Church in Chattanooga and this book is well worth your
reading and study.
I can promise you that the message will not be difficult to
grasp. The author points to Matthew
11:28-30. He says, “Here I had been
trying to do the work myself, and Jesus was telling me to ‘rest’ in him.” And
it seems to this reader that an additional meaning might be attributed to these
words. He goes on to chart the Christian
life throughout this significant work.
One of Rev. Barber’s emphases in this writing is our need
for Christ to fill us and direct our lives from within us. He points out that, because our flesh is
addicted to sin, we cannot break this addiction in our own power – only Christ
in us can do this. One gets the clear feeling that he author is telling us
that, once saved, we have a long road ahead – learning to be a child of God and
a servant to our Lord.
In a very enlightening section of the chapter entitled, “Christ
is my Life” the author explains “the Christ connection.” He tells about Philippians
and concludes: “Where Paul was physically had nothing to do with is life
because Christ was his life.” And this is what you and I must be able to say as
we are transformed during our growth in our Savior. Believe me, you will receive
both growth in Christ and joy as you read this offering.
In your reviewer’s opinion, Rev. Barber is telling us, as
Christians, that we must allow Jesus to do the work within us and from within
us. This book is an excellent source for
the new Christian, as well as us oldsters.
He sums up his effort at the very end of this treatise: “It is Christ living
his life through you. That is the Christ
life.”
For previous reviews, you can view Pat’s blog at http://patbeaty.blogspot.com.
