HRC New Testament Reading Plan: daily NT reading devotional thoughts.
11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.
Hebrews 4:11 NIV
Are you making every effort in your obedience to God?
The Hebrews author continues his second exhortation in Chapter 4: make every effort to help each other stay faithful. In Chapter 3 the emphasis was on encouraging one another. In Chapter 4, it’s on a warning about disobedience.
The first 11 verses of the chapter talk about entering God’s rest and how it’s connected to believing God’s message through obedience. Then in verses 12-13, the author talks about how the Word of God is active, alive, sharp, and able to judge our thoughts and the attitudes of our hearts. God provides His Word to show us our real heart about obedience and belief. Finally, God provides a great high priest, one who know what we’re going through and can give us the confidence to approach God for mercy and grace. With God’s grace, we can overcome our unbelief and disobedience
The second exhortation warns us about unbelief and disobedience but also encourages us that we have one another to help keep us faithful (Chapter 3). God also provides His Word to help us, and a great high priest – more on that in the next Chapter.
Questions:
- The author quotes Psalm 95 again in Hebrews 4. What additional points does he make about entering God’s rest by referring to the psalm?
- How does the Word of God help us with the warning to not be disobedient and unbelieving?
- How can you better use the Word of God to help your brothers and sisters deal with unbelief and disobedience? In what ways can you use the Word to encourage others? Share an encouragement from the Scriptures with someone today.