September 21, 2020

Where Is Rest Truly Found?

Hebrews 4

Luke Seaborn
Monday's Devo

September 21, 2020

Monday's Devo

September 21, 2020

Central Truth

If our perspective is only on ourselves and our situations, we will lose sight of God's plan and the hope for our lives.

Key Verse | Hebrews 4:15

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Hebrews 4

Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 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. 1 4:2 Some manuscripts it did not meet with faith in the hearers For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,

“As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest,’”

although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” And again in this passage he said,

“They shall not enter my rest.”

Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,

“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.”

For if Joshua had given them rest, God 2 4:8 Greek he would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 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. 13 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.

Jesus the Great High Priest

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Footnotes

[1] 4:2 Some manuscripts it did not meet with faith in the hearers
[2] 4:8 Greek he

Dive Deeper | Hebrews 4

Have any of you done a Tough Mudder or a Savage Race? It's that event you decided to do because it looked fun. Then when you're halfway through, you think to yourself, "Why did I sign myself up for this?" You're army crawling through mud, your body is hurting, and along the way it feels like it's not going to end.

But you know there is a finish line; and at the end of it, there is water and the opportunity to REST.

It still isn't easy, though. It reminds me of the times in my life that have been so hard, both mentally and emotionally, that I couldn't see the finish line. I just needed the right perspective.

It is like the Israelites, who heard the good news, "but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened." (Hebrews 4:2) God delivered them out of Egypt, provided for them, and promised them a land with rest. It only took moments of difficulty for them to lose perspective, forget what they were going toward, and ultimately forget who was helping them along the way. It was the unbelief of the Israelites who escaped Egypt that kept them out of Canaan. But Hebrews 4:3 says, "For we who have believed enter that rest." It is by faith in Jesus Christ alone that we can truly find rest in even the most difficult and confusing circumstances. 

God had a greater perspective; He knew where He was leading the Israelites and how He would guide them along the way. Just like He does for us now! God is calling us into His eternal promised land to find rest. And as believers, "we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15) Through our moments of trial and unrest, Jesus is there sympathizing, leading, and giving us perspective to know that we can have hope in Him.

Discussion Questions

1. During trials in your life, what Scripture do you use to help you find perspective?

2. What is an area of unrest in your life where you can trust the Lord's plan?

3. How has God comforted you in your afflictions so that you may be able to comfort others with the comfort God gave you? (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

4. What have you learned more deeply about Christ through your trials?