Saturday 3 March, 2018

4 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, “So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’” And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.” 5 And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.” 6 Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, 7 God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

This passage awakens my mind to the rest that I have in following Jesus. It can be so easy to approach each day focused on the things before us – whether that be school, study, work and all it encompasses, raising and caring for children/family, meetings, expenses, health challenges etc. – all these things can so easily distract us from the life of faith and rest that God promises us. But He so clearly calls us to obey Him and enter His rest (vs 1). I believe in doing this, the things our minds can be consumed by, become less about us and more about how we can fulfill what He calls us to.

In the Passion Translation of this passage, verse 3 says, “For those of us who believe, faith activates the promise and we experience the realm of confident rest!” I love the way this translation reminds us that it’s through our faith in God, that we can experience confident rest in God and the eternal future with Him that is before us.

Lord God, I thank You for offering me rest in You. Please help me today, to focus on You in all that’s ahead of me and put my faith solely in Who You are. May I experience rest in You, as I choose to listen, obey and follow Your ways. Amen.

Written by Laura Samperi