Read

Hebrews 4:9-11

⁹So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. ¹⁰For all who enter into God’s rest will find rest from their labors, just as God rested after creating the world. ¹¹Let us do our best to enter that place of rest. For anyone who disobeys God, as the people of Israel did, will fall.

Reflect

There are times when I have to take away privileges from my kids to make a point that disobedience will not be rewarded. That is the time I understand my parents the most. I know now what they were going through with me. As a parent, disciplining your children isn’t fun - for them or for me.

The author of Hebrews is also warning his readers to guard themselves against disobedience. Previously in the chapter, we read about Israel’s disobedience. The author is telling us that we must do everything in our power to guard ourselves against disobeying God or we will miss out in His blessings, just as the Israelites wandering in the desert.

Respond

When was the last time you had to face discipline?

What kind of discipline does God hand out?

What does the author mean when he says to “do our best to enter that place of rest?”

===================================================
If you would like a printable copy of this devotional, we have provided one here.

Read

Hebrews 4:6-8

⁶So God’s rest is there for people to enter. But those who formerly heard the Good News failed to enter because they disobeyed God. ⁷So God set another time for entering his place of rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David a long time later in the words already quoted: “Today you must listen to his voice. Don’t harden your hearts against him.” ⁸This new place of rest was not the land of Canaan, where Joshua led them. If it had been, God would not have spoken later about another day of rest.

Reflect

When you snooze you lose! Have you ever missed a good deal because you didn’t respond fast enough? I often analyze something too long and then miss the good deals. That happened to the Israelites who were wandering in the desert for a generation. They didn’t believe God’s promise. They didn’t act fast enough to enter into God’s rest. They lost the opportunity.

We have another opportunity. God has established a new rest that is available only through faith. Don’t miss this one!

Respond

Have you ever missed a big event because you didn’t act quick enough? How did you feel?

What did the Israelites do or not do that prevented them from entering into God’s rest?

Why is it important to respond to Christ today?

===================================================
If you would like a printable copy of this devotional, we have provided one here.

Read

Hebrews 4:1-5

¹God’s promise of entering his place of rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to get there. ²For this Good News–that God has prepared a place of rest–has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t believe what God told them. ³For only we who believe can enter his place of rest. As for those who didn’t believe, God said, “In my anger I made a vow: `They will never enter my place of rest,’ ” even though his place of rest has been ready since he made the world. ⁴We know it is ready because the Scriptures mention the seventh day, saying, “On the seventh day God rested from all his work.” ⁵But in the other passage God said, “They will never enter my place of rest.”

Reflect

When God promises something, you can believe that it is a promise kept. After God created the heavens, earth, man and everything else, He rested, appreciating all that He had created. His intention was that man would remain with him for eternity. A funny thing happened along the way…

Adam sinned against God and was cast out of God’s rest. God appointed another rest. The promise land! God rescued the Israelites from oppression and had intended them to enter His rest. But, they disobeyed and rejected Him, so God prevented them from entering into the promise land.

God’s promise to enter into his rest still stands. Through our faith in Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins, we have an opportunity to enter into His rest. But we have to act NOW. Just as God lost his patience with the Israelites of old, we don’t know how long we have. We have to make that decision now.

Respond

What does it mean to you to “enter into God’s rest?”

Is there a limit to God’s patience?

What can you do today to enter into His rest?

===================================================
If you would like a printable copy of this devotional, we have provided one here.

This is Pastor Bart Wilkins speaking on Hebrews, Chapter 4 entitled “Enter God’s Rest”.

Direct Link To MP3 File

If you are also participating in our group study on Hebrews, you can download your Chapter 4 Study Materials.

Read

Hebrews 3:15-19

¹⁵But never forget the warning: “Today you must listen to his voice. Don’t harden your hearts against him as Israel did when they rebelled.”

¹⁶And who were those people who rebelled against God, even though they heard his voice? Weren’t they the ones Moses led out of Egypt? ¹⁷ And who made God angry for forty years? Wasn’t it the people who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? ¹⁸And to whom was God speaking when he vowed that they would never enter his place of rest? He was speaking to those who disobeyed him. ¹⁹So we see that they were not allowed to enter his rest because of their unbelief.

Reflect

OK. Three questions.

1. Who rebelled against God?
2. Who sinned against God?
3. Who would not enter into rest?

Obviously, the answer to all three questions is “the ones whom God rescued from Egypt!” Isn’t it amazing that even after actually seeing miracle after miracle, the Israelites still rebelled against God?

We are alot like the Israelites. We have so much in America that we often take God for granted. The attitude seems to be, I can get whatever I want without God so why do I need God?

That is the same dangerous attitude that the Israelites had. The writer of Hebrews is warning them and us that if we continue to harbor these attitudes, we will not have a relationship with God.

Respond

Do you take your salvation for granted?

Have you ever been lazy in your belief?

What are some ways you can make sure that you give yourself totally over to God?

===================================================
If you would like a printable copy of this devotional, we have provided one here.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Read

Hebrews 3:12-14

¹²Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. ¹³You must warn each other every day, as long as it is called “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. ¹⁴For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.

Reflect

One rotten apple spoiles the barrel.

In short, that is what the writer is telling the Hebrew audience. Be careful that you do not back away from your beliefs or else you may corrupt other believers and bring them down with you. The writer then goes on and encourages them to build each other up so that they can share in all that belongs to Christ.

Respond

Why is it important to have Christian friends?

As important as the warning to not back away from their beliefs is, why is it even more important that they build each other up?

Do you know someone who can hold you accountable?

===================================================
If you would like a printable copy of this devotional, we have provided one here.

Read

Hebrews 3:7-11

⁷That is why the Holy Spirit says, “Today you must listen to his voice.⁸Don’t harden your hearts against him as Israel did when they rebelled, when they tested God’s patience in the wilderness.⁹There your ancestors tried my patience, even though they saw my miracles for forty years.¹⁰So I was angry with them, and I said, `Their hearts always turn away from me. They refuse to do what I tell them.’<sup>11</sup>So in my anger I made a vow: `They will never enter my place of rest.’ ”

Reflect

W. Clement Stone, who built an insurance empire worth hundreds of millions dollars, would make all his employees recite the phrase, “Do it now!” again and again at the start of every workday. Whenever you feel the tendency towards laziness taking over and you remember something you should be doing, stop and say out loud, “Do it now! Do it now! Do it now!”

The author of Hebrews emphasizes this attitude when he says “Today you must listen to his voice.” He is saying to the readers - “In light of the fact that the Son is superior to Moses, you must not abandon your faith through disobedience. In fact, you must respond today!”

Respond

What could happen if you harden your heart against God?

Why was it important for the readers to respond “today”?

How can we make sure that we don’t rebel against God?

===================================================
If you would like a printable copy of this devotional, we have provided one here.