Instruction
Scripture: Hebrews 4:1-16
The writer of this letter described the disobedience and
rebellion of the Israelites who refused to enter the Promised Land. Now he
warns his listeners to take note of their fall, for they did not enter into
God’s promised rest. Despite the fact that He had secured their salvation,
their disobedience ruined their entry into the place God had promised. This
passage stands as a warning to us to resist sin and rebellion, and a reminder
to cling to God’s promises in Christ to shape our lives in obedience.
Teaching
Obedience matters. We often focus on the great truth that we
have been saved by grace through faith. This is good news, for we are utterly
incapable of saving ourselves! Yet now that we are saved, that does not mean
that we should wantonly give ourselves over to sin. Nor should we live rebelliously,
conforming ourselves to the ideas and patterns of the world rather than to
Christ.
We must be clear, however, regarding the obedience that God
desires. His desire, first and foremost, is that we be rescued from our sin
through faith in Jesus, the crucified and risen Savior. Being rescued from sin,
we now struggle against the sinful inclinations of our hearts to live according
to God’s will and confessing our sins and the many ways we fall short of that
will.
Life
This is a difficult lesson for us. We do not want to think
about receiving God’s salvation, but failing to reach God’s promised rest. A
great good is ours because Jesus gave His life for ours. Just as the Israelites
were rescued from slavery in Egypt and given a new home in the Promised Land,
we have been rescued from slavery to sin and given a new home in heaven. We do
not want to neglect that gift or take it for granted. We neglect it if we think
we think that our actions somehow contribute to entering into God’s promised
rest, and we take it for granted if we think we can freely disregard God’s
Word.
Prayer
O Lord, when You called the Israelites to enter into the
promised land many of them doubted Your goodness and refused to act upon Your
salvation. Something similar can happen still today as the people that You call
as Your own doubt Your promises and turn to disobedience. We too can lose our
place in Your eternal rest. Protect us, O Lord!
Thank You for delivering good news to us in the person of
Your Son, our Savior, Jesus. He has rescued us from this wearying world and we
have rest in His name. Thank You for delivering the message of Your salvation
to us in Your Word, through the prophets and apostles, and handing this message
down to today, so we may believe and be saved.
Forgive us for our disobedience. Forgive us for taking the
message of Christ crucified for us for granted. Forgive us for not trusting
Your grace, and continuing to think we must earn our salvation. Forgive us for
not clinging to Your promises and acting upon them.
Grant that we never lose the rest You have won for us by
Jesus’ death and resurrection. Let those who have turned away from Your promise
remember and return to it. Fill us all with faith to hold tightly to Your Word
and to live as people You have saved. Amen.
Comments