Tuesday: Today, If you Hear His Voice
Read Hebrews 4:4-8. What is the meaning of entering rest “today” in connection with keeping the Sabbath?
The unbelief of the desert generation prevented them from entering into the rest God promised. But God kept urging His people to enter this rest and not to harden their hearts. Paul repeats several times that God’s promise “remains” (Hebrews 4:1, Hebrews 4:6, Hebrews 4:9, NKJV). He uses the Greek verbs kataleipo and apoleipo, emphasizing that “the promise of entering his [God’s] rest still stands” (Hebrews 4:1, ESV).
Image © Krieg Barrie at Goodsalt.com
The fact that the invitation to enter this rest was repeated in the time of David (Hebrews 4:6-7, referring to Psalm 95) implied both that the promise had not been claimed and that it was still available. In fact, Paul suggests that the experience of true Sabbath rest has been available since the time of Creation (Hebrews 4:3-4).
God invites us “today” to enter into His rest. “Today” is a crucial concept throughout Scripture. When Moses renewed Israel’s covenant with God at the border of the Promised Land, he emphasized the importance of “today” (Deuteronomy 5:3, compare Deuteronomy 4:8, Deuteronomy 6:6, etc.). It was a moment of reflection to recognize God’s faithfulness (Deuteronomy 11:2-7) and a time of decision to obey the Lord (Deuteronomy 5:1-3). Similarly, Joshua called on the people of his time to “choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15, NKJV).
In the same way, “today” is a time of decision for us, a time of opportunity, as well as danger, as it has always been for God’s people (See 2 Corinthians 6:2). “Today” appears five times in Hebrews Chapters 3 and 4. It emphasizes the importance of listening to God’s voice (Hebrews 3:7, Hebrews 3:15; Hebrews 4:7) because failing to listen and believe God’s word leads to disobedience and the hardening of our hearts. It could even delay our entrance into the heavenly Canaan, just as it kept the wilderness generation from entering the earthly Canaan.
But Jesus has defeated our enemies (Hebrews 2:14-16) and inaugurated a new covenant (Hebrews Chapters 8-10). Thus, we can “come boldly to the throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:14-16). The appeal “today” invites us to recognize that God has been faithful to us and has provided us with every reason to accept His invitation right away without delay.
| What spiritual decisions must you make “today,” that is, not put off for another time? What have been your past experiences when you have delayed doing what you knew God would have you do right away? |
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My father-in-law in his most philosophical moments likes to make the statement, "Today is all you've got!" At 97 years of age, that is just about right too! But, I know what he means. Today, is where it all happens. When scientists try to visualise the space-time continuum for us mere mortals, they often depict it as two cones lying apex to apex. One cone contains the future and the other, the past. The present moment is the tiny dot connecting the two. Until we master time-travel, we have to live in that tiny dot. What we do in that dot leaves an non-erasable trail in the past and has ramifications for what happens in the future. That is not theology; it is science.
What has all this got to do with today's lesson study? This passage in Hebrews 4 draws a parallel between God "resting" at the completion of creation, and us "resting" in Him. For most of us, the notion of resting is associated with doing nothing or taking it easy. But, in this context, I think it is more appropriate to be associated with satisfaction and peace of mind. The invitation is extended to us to accept the peace of mind, satisfaction and confidence that comes with God's gift to us. That is an entirely different meaning from resting because you feel tired. The Sabbath rest should be a reflection and celebration of the "satisfaction and peace of mind" notion of resting. But, there is a corollary: That notion of resting extends beyond just the seventh-day Sabbath and should be part of our "today" experience every day.
Brother Ashton,
Thanks for always using scientific analogies to compare with Theology for science derived from God anyway, right.
Liked: "Sabbath day should
be part of our "today" experience every day."
Welcome back!
Heb. 4:8 holds the secret to entering His rest. "For he who has entered His rest has himself ceased from his works as God did."
When we work hard to obey the commandments, it's just that, our works. You cannot enter His rest by trying. Jesus gives all who believe in Him His Holy Spirit which is where our connection with God is. Faith is how we enter His Presence within. Acknowledge Jesus in everything you do and He will bring His way to your heart so that you can easily follow it; just as He does for me every time.
I'm not saying I'm perfect. On a rare occasion I find myself following my own desire. This happens because even though I know what I should do, I'm not in the Spirit ; and I am bound to the sin that dwells within my flesh. To obey becomes a terrible struggle. That is what Paul means when He said, "Oh wretched man that I am!" When I am struggling, I'm not at rest! Jesus only calls me back, I don't suffer condemnation. The more I turn to Him the easier it gets. It's always good to live in His Love!
Frank Dyson shared an interesting comment for Monday's lesson: ... “the fourth statement of the decalogue is not so much a command for us to “observe” a day in a particular way, but it is there to identify the giver of the life principles announced therein.”
He continues: “Without that fourth statement the rest of the ‘commandments’ could have been declared by any god or dictator. However, in identifying Himself, as their Deliverer, the Creator and therefore Sustainer, God gives us the foundation of a solid, trusting, REST.” Thank you Frank for sharing this insight with us!
Is it not true that, when agreeing to observe Sabbath, it implies that we also agree to live according to the rest of that which our Creator shared with us and so enter His Rest? ‘Today’ means to me – don’t loose time going back and forth, contemplating the ‘potential’ costs and benefits of your decision to believe. Take action, jump off the springboard called 'faith-potentials' and experience faith in your life now! When faith in God’s Will and Way becomes the guiding light in the believer's life, it is only then that we have come alive.
Whether are aware of it or not, both your brain and mind are being shaped right this moment. In every moment that makes up today, your brain-mind has options and chooses from among those options. It chooses which thoughts you will think, which attitudes you will adopt, and which behaviours you will carry out.
Neuroscience has increased our understanding of how the particular thoughts, attitudes and behaviours you choose in this moment, will influence those you are more likely to embrace in the next moment, and then the next moment, and so on. Each thought, attitude and behaviour involves the 'firing' of a particular pathway of neuronal networks rather than the firing of alternative other pathways. And the pathway that has just been fired results in a change to the neurons in that pathway such that they require a lower threshold of electrical current to be reached in order to fire again next time. Furthermore, each time that choice is repeated, the neuronal pathway involved is progressively strengthened - eventually becoming what is termed 'hard-wired'. This is the process by which your particular cluster of thoughts, attitudes and behaviours in relation to particular triggers become your conditioned default tendency and why and how whatever is repeated becomes stronger and, conversely, 'if you don't use it you progressively lose it' (2 Corinthians 3:18 principle).
Either of two things will guide our 'choices' in-the-moment. We will either make a conscious and intentional choice or, more typically for the majority of people, their subconscious will 'intentionally' make the 'choice' in the absence of their conscious awareness and choice. If you make a conscious and intentional choice, you are in the driver's seat of the decision and the resultant thought, attitude or behaviour being engaged (as per what 2 Corinthians 10:5 is referring to). If you fail to make a conscious and intentional choice, your subconscious is in the driver's seat and you are merely a passenger along for the ride. This is precisely what Paul is referring to in Romans 7:20 where he identifies the sin-nature tendency within him that is doing the driving. How the sin-nature tendency does this is via our subconscious which, unless we have matured to do otherwise via Romans 12:2, gravitates to self-seeking options by default (Romans 7:17-18)*. I believe this was a change that occurred within humanity at Genesis 3:6 and is the 'mechanism' also being referred to in Romans 5:12-14. In case some might think I am suggesting a person is therefore not responsible in such situations, that is a complex discussion for another time.
I believe the reality of what I have very briefly overviewed above is why Paul in Hebrews 3:7,8 and 13 refers to (a) being conscious and intentional about what choice you are making in-the-moment today and (b) also hi-lights the benefits of, and therefore need to, beneficially encourage others to be consciously and intentionally mindful of the choices they are making in-the-moment. Jesus pointed out that it will and does take conscious and intentional effort to choose other-benefiting rather than the self-seeking option in-the-moment (see Matthew 16:24; Romans 8:13). And, of ourselves, this is a hopelessly discouraging prospect (Romans 7:18-19,24). But God, via the proactive initiative of the Holy Spirit, offers to abundantly lead, guide, equip and encourage us (John 15:5; Philippians 4:13) so that we can be empowered and enabled to become, with one in-the-moment practice at a time, today, "...more than conquerors through Him who loved us..." (Romans 8:37). And keep in mind that we too can help each other by encouraging (along with upholding in prayer) each other (Hebrews 3:13) - to keep on keeping on, to get back up when we fall down, because it's not over till it's over (Philippians 3:12-15).
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* Unfortunately, Satan is very aware of this reality and of the vulnerability it represents for us as humans. And true to his maleficent nature, Satan works to exploit this vulnerability - which is why we need to be aligned with the Holy Spirit rather than 'cruising along on our own'.
Part 2 of the question posed asks, "What have been your past experiences when you have delayed doing what you knew God would have you do right away?"
My answer to this may sound unexpected to some, but I would have to say my experiences are "grace". I can't put it in words, but I know if grace and love. I'm not saying that God loves the sin. We always hear the God loves the sinner. Whenever I'm not on point, slow to react, or have yet to conform, I recognize patience and grace from God. And I'll leave it there.
Adam and Eve were created on the sixth day. That means the first thing they did with a full day was to rest in and with God. To commune with their Maker and be fully settled in their hearts and minds and souls, filled with satisfaction, peace, confidence, they learned about God’s character and their own worth, they had a day to deepen intimacy with God before they began their work of caring for Creation.
Joshua asked the people to choose whom they would serve before entering the land and fighting battles. They were to have spiritual rest in their hearts and minds before they went off to do great things. I know this to be true in me too. I need to be fully at rest in God, which for me means rehearsing His promises, Remembering how he has met my needs in the past, and saying “yes, I choose You, Jesus” , before I can do anything helpful for anyone at all. Before I can love without exhaustion. I need to agree to receive from God and give Him the credit/honor if I have any hope of thriving or giving to others.