Oh, there is so much in this chapter! We are reminded that God wants us to have faith, unlike the Israelites who, when they got to the promised land, listened to the ten spies who said that the people in the land were too strong for them and advised walking away from that land and a place to call home – a place to rest. Only Joshua and Caleb believed that God could help them conquer the land.
As we saw in Psalm 95 yesterday, the Israelite walked away from that land and from a settled home of their own and wandered for 40 years before they finally, under Joshua’s leadership, believed God could give them the land. And He did! God still promises us a land of rest, today. Heaven is real and it’s coming and it is the home we’ve always longed for! But, like the Israelites, God wants us to have faith in Him, that He really did come to earth as Jesus and die and rise again and He really is preparing a place for us in Heaven.
So, let’s let the piercing word of God reach our hearts. Let’s believe God’s words to us and yearn for Heaven and for rest in Him as we trust Him even now. When we doubt, in faith let’s go right to Jesus, the High Priest who understands us and confess our weaknesses, knowing He’ll be gracious and merciful to us. We don’t have to be perfect. We can’t be. We don’t have to always be strong. We won’t be. We just need to keep coming toward Him … in trust and faith and hope. So “Today, when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts” (Psalm 95:7-8; Hebrews 4:7b).
My verse: Hebrews 4:10, “For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world.”
My response: We labor to hide sin and pretend we’re fine, while knowing we are not … we try to be perfect and fail and fail again … but when we come to You, great God, “naked and exposed” (vs 13) … when we stand before “the throne of our gracious God … we will find grace to help us when we need it most” (vs 16). Oh, how I thank You for Your grace. In You, Lord, I find rest for my soul. I come to You.
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Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is alive 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”
Lord, this is powerful. May all of my thoughts be aligned with your will. Soften my heart. May my instinct be to love and treat with kindness. May my hearts desire be to please you Lord.
What a beautiful prayer! A softened heart … a desire to love and treat others with kindness. Me, too, Lord. Me, too, please.