Rest

6/8/10 Hebrews 4-6

Rest

Chapter 4 is a continuation on the subject of rest which began in chapter 3.  God has given a promise of rest in the past and his promise of rest remains true today.  The author uses an example of the Israelites who did not enter His rest because of their disobedience.  His promise of rest was given to them, but they chose their own way.  The rest the author is speaking of here is the eternal rest that is made possible by faith in Jesus Christ.  Without faith in Jesus there is no way to enter this rest. 

Is this rest a sure thing?  It is for those whose trust is completely in God’s word.  God’s word has not been given to condemn us, but so we might acknowledge our weakness and deepest needs.  God’s word serves as a tool to scrape away surface issues and symptoms evident in our lives and expose our weaknesses and greatest needs (Heb 4:12).  Apart from Jesus there is no rest, both now or eternally.

Jesus serves as our great high priest and he is able to identify with our weaknesses and our needs so there is immediate rest for those who draw near to the throne of grace, where mercy and grace are available. 

The idea of rest for me is particularly attractive right now.  I personally have went much too long without taking sometime away from the weekly grind of ministry.  In some ways I have been working harder than I ever have, but I have been confronted lately with some significant weaknesses and needs in my own life which I must address at the throne of grace and ask for mercy and grace.  I am hoping in the next few weeks that I will be able to get some much needed physical rest and relaxation which I believe will stimulate spiritual rest and refreshment.