October 12, 2018
Hebrews 4:1-11 New Living Translation
Just as the Israelites turned back from their Promised Land due to fear and spent 40 more years in the wilderness, we as Christians can turn away from the promised rest we have been offered in Christ. Rest is about trust; trusting Christ, surrendered to his authority, and then doing what he says. We live in the Sabbath rest of Christ when we believe and trust the Lord to finish the work he has begun in us. The Life Application Bible has this to say about spiritual rest, “To enter his rest, you must believe that God has this relationship in mind for you; you must stop trying to create it; you must trust in Christ for it; and you must decide/determine to obey him.” We cannot have control and rest at the same time. So, surrendered to the work of the Master, because he created you and knows where you are to go.
Hebrews 4:1-11 Promised Rest for God’s People
4 God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it. 2 For this good news—that God has prepared this rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God. 3 For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said,
“In my anger I took an oath:
‘They will never enter my place of rest,’”
even though this rest has been ready since he made the world. 4 We know it is ready because of the place in the Scriptures where it mentions the seventh day: “On the seventh day God rested from all his work.” 5 But in the other passage God said, “They will never enter my place of rest.”
6 So God’s rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard this good news failed to enter because they disobeyed God. 7 So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted:
“Today when you hear his voice,
don’t harden your hearts.”
8 Now if Joshua had succeeded in giving them this rest, God would not have spoken about another day of rest still to come. 9 So there is a special rest[f] still waiting for the people of God. 10 For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. 11 So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.
Prayer: Lord, help me to stay in a place of spiritual rest each day. Just help me learn how to love you and others in a more perfect way and I will be making progress in my journey. I don’t have to wear the pressure of making decision in my own strength; I need to rest in your loving presence and upon your word to take me where I need to go. In Jesus’ name. Amen.