Obedience is Rest
Priceless Lessons from Dr. Price
Why Obedience is the Rest You've Been Looking For
The calendar flipped to a new year, and with it came the familiar frenzy. Vision boards appeared on kitchen tables. Planners were cracked open with fresh resolve. Social media feeds filled with declarations of goals, grind, and hustle. But beneath all the productivity promises, a quiet question lingered in many hearts: "Will I finally get it right this year? Will I lose ground if I stop trying to control everything?"
If you've ever felt that exhausting tension between trying harder and needing rest, Dr. Richard Price's powerful sermon on Hebrews 4:9-12 offers a revolutionary answer. The rest we're all searching for doesn't come from working harder or planning better—it comes from surrendering to God's authority through obedience to Christ.
"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest..." (Hebrews 4:9-11)
God Has Spoken His Final Word Through Jesus
Before Hebrews gives us instructions, warnings, or endurance language, it establishes something foundational: God has already spoken, decided, and ruled. And He did so through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Dr. Price draws our attention to Hebrews 1:1-2, which explains that while God spoke "in many times and in many ways" through the prophets in ages past, "in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son." This isn't just another message from God—Jesus is God's final message to humanity.
Think about what that means for your restless heart. When you follow Christ, you're not guessing at God's will. You're not hoping you heard the Scriptures correctly or chasing after the next revelation. You're responding to the final voice of God. And when that voice is clear, your soul can finally settle.
As Dr. Price puts it, "Obedience is not submitting to uncertainty—it's submitting to supremacy." You're not losing control; you're yielding to the One who already holds it all.
Disobedience is Exhausting—Obedience Brings Rest
Here's a truth we often avoid: disobedience is exhausting. It requires constant control, endless justification, and perpetual manipulation of people and circumstances. It breeds fear, anxiety, and that restless "barrel mentality" where everyone's scrambling to get ahead, trying to be the man or the woman, desperately hustling to make it all work.
Dr. Price points us to the sobering example of Israel in Hebrews 3-4. They failed to enter God's rest—not because God failed, not because the promise failed, but because their trust failed. They heard God's word but resisted His authority. They kept arguing with God's commands instead of surrendering to them.
The result? A generation of restless, wandering people who never entered the promised land.
Sound familiar? How many of us are wandering restlessly through life because we're still trying to be our own authority? We want God's blessings, but we resist His commands. We want His peace, but we won't surrender control.
But when you settle under God's authority—when your inner soul is settled with Him—everything changes. As Dr. Price reminds us, "There's nothing between my soul and my Savior." That's the rest we need.
Rest Requires Building Your Capacity for Obedience
Here's where it gets interesting. Hebrews 4:9-11 says something that sounds almost contradictory: "Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest." Effort and rest in the same sentence?
Dr. Price explains the revelation: rest requires capacity. You can't rest under Christ's authority if you're still trying to be your own. You can't rest while arguing with God's commands. So 2026 isn't about reckless obedience—it's about prepared obedience. It's about building the heart, the discipline, and the faith to obey without fear.
This means:
- Carving out dedicated prayer time to build your connection with God
- Making space for Bible study and meditation that strengthens your faith
- Attending faith-building classes that increase your spiritual capacity
- Surrendering the need to control outcomes and trusting God's sovereignty
- Using your "spiritual toolbox"—prayer, meditation, quiet time—especially when obedience is hard
As Dr. Price challenges us, "Did you forget to scribble 'Jesus' and 'obedience' on your vision chart? Did you forget to make sure you carve out more prayer time?" The more you build this capacity, the more you'll be able to say with confidence, "I'm resting in God this year."
Keep Your Eyes Fixed on Jesus—The Champion of Faith
The ultimate model of obedient rest is Jesus Himself. Hebrews 12:1-2 calls us to "keep our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith." Jesus trusted the Father fully. He obeyed when it was hard. He submitted when it was unclear. He rested in God's will, even at the cross.
And because Jesus rested under the Father's authority, we can now rest under His.
Dr. Price shares this powerful reminder: "You may not control the outcome, but you are covered by Him. You may not see every step, church, but you are walking with the One who reigns." When recent world events made headlines about conflict and war, Dr. Price didn't stay glued to the news cycle. He turned off the television and turned to the highest authority in prayer.
That's the practical application of rest. You don't need to know everything in 2026. You don't have to manage everything. You don't have to carry everything. You just have to follow Jesus. And when you do, you're not striving—you're resting.
Living This Out: Your Invitation to Surrender
So what does this mean for your life today? It means that obedience is the rest you've been searching for. Not the hustle. Not the control. Not the endless striving to make it all work out. Just simple, faithful obedience to the One who loves you and holds your future.
Dr. Price asks the penetrating question: "Who are you placing your trust in this year?" Maybe your vision board is full of goals and plans, but did you include Jesus? Did you prioritize obedience? Did you make room for the spiritual disciplines that build capacity for rest?
This is your invitation to surrender—not to give up, but to give over. To stop being that friend who calls upset every two weeks because you're riding the roller coaster of restless living. To stop trying to change people, control circumstances, or manipulate outcomes. To simply rest in God by walking in obedience to Him.
As the old hymn says: "At the cross, at the cross where my Savior died, the burdens of my heart rolled away. It was there by faith I received my sight, and now I'm happy all the day."
📺 Watch the Full Sermon
Experience Dr. Richard Price's complete message "Obedience is Rest" delivered at Schrader Lane Church of Christ on January 4, 2026.
Watch on YouTube →💭 Reflection Question
Where are you still trying to be your own authority instead of resting in God's? What would it look like for you to build your capacity for obedience this year—through prayer, Bible study, and surrendering control to Christ?
Take Your Next Step
If today's message resonates with you, don't let this moment pass. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or reach out to let us know how God is speaking to your heart about rest and obedience.
Looking for more resources to grow in your faith? Visit BarrysBureau.org for Bible study tools, interactive lessons, and weekly encouragement designed to help you move from spiritual milk to meat.
Join us for worship at Schrader Lane Church of Christ and experience a community committed to biblical teaching and authentic fellowship.
Barry's Bureau | Inspired by Dr. Richard Price's sermon at Schrader Lane Church of Christ
Barry's Bureau – Inspiring Excellence in Christian Living
🙏 Obedience is Rest
Interactive Bible Study Quiz
Based on Dr. Richard Price's Sermon | Hebrews 4:9-12
Test your understanding of this powerful message about finding true rest through obedience to God. This quiz contains 7 questions that will help reinforce the key principles from Dr. Price's sermon.
Quiz Complete! 🎉
Share your results and invite others to test their knowledge!
Want to dive deeper? Visit BarrysBureau.org for more Bible study resources!