I’m just starting off in the book of Hebrews, I just got through the first four chapters. I’m thinking I’ll have a couple more Hebrews Read. Write. Pray. posts for you in the coming weeks. Anyways, lets get to the things that stood out to me in these first four chapters.
There were three things that I feel were being emphasized in these chapters, and they are all connected. Here they are:
- How great Christ is.
- Being Alert to the Gospel Message.
- The Promise of Entering His Rest.
First, the writer of Hebrews wanted us to know the supremacy of Christ. He is the one through whom the world was created; the one who through his words upholds the universe; and the one who is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature. He is the one who paid the price for sin, and to whom God gave all authority to, leaving nothing out of his control. He has inherited God’s house, and is faithful to God who appointed him.
The second thing was how our awareness of Christ and his message is so vitally important. There are many warnings of drifting away from the gospel message we have heard, and encouragement to pay attention to our hearts. The writer encourages us to examine our hearts to make sure they hold fast in the confidence we have in Christ; to see if there is any unbelief, leading us to fall away from the living God. He calls us to “exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of [us] may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Those who through unbelief were disobedient were not allowed to enter his rest.
Third, God promised that his people would enter his rest. Entering his rest depends on our belief in Christ! His rest is not found here on earth, but we are to strive to enter it- seeking to make sure our hearts are his in belief. He knows the thoughts and intentions of our heart, and to him we must give an account.
To be honest right now, I’m having a hard time finding rest in him. I know that perfect and complete rest will not be found this side of heaven, but we can still find peace in him. However, for whatever reason it might be today- it’s been different each day for the past few days- I’m having a hard time just being able to rest in him. My mind keeps shifting into a depression type mode, and I’m not feeling any joy, peace or rest, I think mainly because I’m not taking the time to just be with him; granted, there are many things that are making my heart go in so many different directions, but I’m not taking the time to just be with him. I spend more time on my phone some days than I do listening to his sweet words to me.
Hebrews talks about how he knows our struggles and temptations- he’s been through them himself! The creator of the world has been where I am! He knows the pain and difficulty, and is there to help me walk through it.
So here’s what I’m going to do once I stop writing this: kneel before my God and King, creator of the universe, and tell him how I’m feeling. Give him my struggles and burdens, and ask for his heart and desires in return.
Are you struggling right now? My prayer for both of us is that we would go to him and find rest.
Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 NASB