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Have you ever heard a song and then kept playing it repeatedly? Sooner or later, you tired of it and went to another song.
I do this with chapters of the Bible, except that I don’t tire of it, as I sometimes memorize the chapter. One of these chapters is Hebrews 4.
An amazing chapter!
The header of this chapter in the NASB1995 version is The Believer’s Rest; in the NKJV, it’s The Promise of Rest; and in the NLT, Promised Rest for God’s People.
Let’s read the first verse in Hebrews chapter 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 (NLT).
How many of want this rest? Are we failing to experience this rest? How do we find rest?
The Greek word for “rest” is found nine times in the New Testament, and six of those times are in Hebrews 4. What does this chapter teach about rest?
It takes faith!
For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened (v. 2, ESV).
Nothing good comes without faith. It’s too easy to live by sight, but our difficulties are larger than our abilities.
We must have faith!
We must obey!
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 (v. 6, NLT).
In Scripture, faith always implies obedience. Not grand acts but small acts of seeing and participating in daily assignments!
Reliance upon God’s Word.
For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires (v. 12).
Our errant thoughts and attitudes destroy peace. Often, we don’t know what’s wrong; we need advice and correction, but who or what can we trust for this wisdom?
The Word of God.
Come Boldly to Jesus!
Let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most (v. 16).
The purpose of our relationship with God is confident access. He wants heirs and participants in His Kingdom, not subservient and fearful servants. Those who learn rest don’t wallow with inactivity but ask God for big prayers.
Remember Hebrews 4 and read it regularly. It’s one of the antidote chapters in the Bible against fear and discouragement.
Let’s enter His rest!