Daily Reading: 8-22-16
Hebrews 3:12-4:3 Contemporary English Version (CEV)
Faith is what pleases God. It is faith in God’s love and promises that keeps us following and discovering more about God’s character. All too easily, we can choose to harden our hearts and refuse to listen to God’s voice. When we listen and obey God’s instructions, it actually causes us to prosper in every area of our lives.
The writer of Hebrews reminds his readers by revisiting the story of the Israelites in the wilderness.
12 My friends, watch out! Don’t let evil thoughts or doubts make any of you turn from the living God. 13 You must encourage one another each day. And you must keep on while there is still a time that can be called “today.” If you don’t, then sin may fool some of you and make you stubborn. 14 We were sure about Christ when we first became his people. So let’s hold tightly to our faith until the end.
15 The Scriptures say,
“If you hear his voice today,
don’t be stubborn
like those who rebelled.”
16 Who were those people that heard God’s voice and rebelled? Weren’t they the same ones that came out of Egypt with Moses? 17 Who were the people that made God angry for forty years? Weren’t they the ones that sinned and died in the desert? 18 And who did God say would never enter his place of rest? Weren’t they the ones that disobeyed him? 19 We see that those people did not enter the place of rest because they did not have faith.
4 The promise to enter the place of rest is still good, and we must take care that none of you miss out. 2 We have heard the message, just as they did. But they failed to believe what they heard, and the message did not do them any good. 3 Only people who have faith will enter the place of rest.
Prayer: Father, help me to connect in a greater measure of faith with you, today. I will be listening and seeking to understand and obey. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for helping me along the way. In Jesus’ name. Amen.