Day 696: Hebrews 4- Proactive Rest

​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. 2 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. 3 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.4 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” 5 And again in this passage he said,
“They shall not enter my rest.”
6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 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.”
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God[b] would not have spoken of another day later on. 9 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.
 
Meditation
Martin Luther was restless in his self-righteous moralism seeking to justify himself before God. St. Augustine was restless in illicit deeds of the flesh. Both reached climactic moments where God’s word pierced their souls and led them to find rest in God and His finished work.
 
God’s grace gives invitation to rest. The wilderness generation missed out on God’s promise because they did not believe God (1-5). The invitation to rest remains (6-7), a sabbath rest that is in God and His promises. We “strive” to enter God’s rest when we believe the source of satisfaction for our souls is in our Savior alone.
 
Rest is holistic, including resting in God’s grace for the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus is our High Priest who mediates by means of His own sacrifice. God’s grace grips our hearts so we can hold fast to Him. God’s work is finished so we can approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, without fear and expecting favor (14-16). The finished work of Christ frees us to rest in the mercy and grace of God.
 
The living word of God exposes reasons keeping us from believing God and His promise of rest. It exposes our self-righteous moralism that keeps us from resting in Jesus’ finished work. God’s word is living and active! As with both Luther and Augustine, God’s Word exposes the intentions of our heart (11-13). Jesus, the word made flesh, extends God’s grace to all who accept His invitation to intimate relationship saying, “Come to me… and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
 
Richly Dwelling
-Are you resting in God, the promises of His word, and His finished work?
 
-How does God’s word expose the hardness of your heart and the places you put your trust for rest outside of God, the promises of His word, and His finished work?
 
-Jesus offers you rest saying, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” How can you more faithfully respond to this invitation? Where do you need to rest holistically- physically, emotionally, spiritually, mentally, or other?
 
Key Verse
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.