Tag: Hebrews 4
God’s Surgery Scalpel
Scripture reading for October 17: Hebrews 4
“So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:9-13
God knows all things and sees all things. God’s Word was used to create all things and now sustains all things. God’s people are called to trust God’s eternal Word and rest in the Truth He has declared. We cannot add to God’s Word or His work. We cannot work to earn our place in His family, we can only rest in His works on our behalf. Faith chooses to rest and say “amen” to what God’s Word declares.
God knows each of us as if we stood naked before Him. His Word is active and alive in each person’s life. That is why we should humbly listen to what God has said. His Word is alive with His life and can bring us His life in the form of new birth and adoption into His eternal family. His Word can pierce deeply inside of us and do the surgery that is necessary. It can cut out the old heart that is dead in trespasses and sins and install a new heart that enables us to do His will. It can discern the thoughts and intentions of our hearts when the true intentions may be hidden by us or from us. By faith we invite God’s Word to do surgery on our thoughts, motives, and actions of our body. As we rest in His eternal Word, we can have assurance of His seeing our heart of faith and being pleased when we are called to give an account.
Have you ever had God do a deep probe into your heart and expose hidden thoughts or motives? Have you ever tried to hide something from God or yourself? Are you ready right now to give an account before Jesus should He come?
Prayer: Father God, thank you for expanding my world view to better allow God’s Word to do surgery on me. Although I think I am open before You and transparent, bring any hidden thing needing attention to light. Help me to live each day in the Sabbath rest that Your people are called to enjoy daily. Amen.
Press on to enter His Rest!
Scripture reading for October 18th: Hebrews 4
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Hebrews 4:11-13 “Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”
The writer of Hebrews used the example of the nation of Israel and their failure to enter the promised land because of the ten spies evil report. He warned New Testament believers of the importance of hearing and believing God’s word. We must act in obedience on what God said through His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus is our Sabbath rest. Today is the day to rest in His finished work! Failure to enter into Christ’s salvation rest is known to God and will be made evident on the day of Christ!
Observations for over-comers: Today is the day of Sabbath rest in Christ Jesus! Live by faith in His finished work! “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” (Psalm 95:7-8, Hebrews 3:7, 4:15)
Jesus: Great High Priest!
Scripture reading for October 19th: Hebrews 4
The Old Testament Jews failed to enter the rest of faith because of unbelief. They hardened their hearts and disobeyed God and did not enter the promised land by resting in faith in God’s promises. They tried to achieve favor with God through works of their own and keeping the Law. They did not simply trust in the promise of God.
“There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God: for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His. Let us , therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.” (Hebrews 4:9-11) Jesus Christ is our Sabbath-rest. He finished the work necessary for salvation and offered His blood, once for all. All who believe in Him will be saved and enter His rest.
“Therefore, since we have a great High Priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who had been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16) We can rest in confidence that Jesus Christ, our great High Priest, will give us the mercy and grace we need to find rest in His promises! We can ask boldly and receive!