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?

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