Hebrews 3:12-19
I started graduate school at the University of Maryland in January 1979. UMD is inside the Washington, DC beltway and I knew of an “alternative” socially-conscious church in DC known as Sojourners Fellowship. Very shortly I started attending there. One Sunday after a couple of visits a young lady said that a number of them were going out for lunch, would I like to go along? I declined, explaining that I was a graduate student and that I needed my Sunday afternoon and evening to prepare for the week ahead. She replied that God had given us a Sabbath rest and that I should take advantage of that. I said thank you, no, but I’ll think about it.
So I went home and when I picked up my Bible for my day’s reading the passage covered Hebrews 3-4. I was stunned to learn that this “rest” was a gift, not as a requirement – and I enjoyed receiving gifts! So prior to the next Sunday’s service I got all my week’s prep work done on Saturday and went to church at Sojourners. Sadly, that same young lady was not in attendance and no one asked me to lunch. So I took the day off and explored DC for the first time – the White House, Congress, the Lincoln Memorial – the whole works! Then I drove back home and continued my “rest” into the evening. Come Monday morning I was ready for the week ahead. And from that weekend forward, I never did any Sunday school work, not even grading exams, unless my classroom students or my fellow graduate students leaned heavily on me to work with them. And that pattern has continued for Carol and me to this very day. I am so thankful for that young lady and for the discipline that I had even back then to be reading Scripture every day. GLORY to God!!
As for today’s reading, my Study Bible pointed to the three questions in verses 16, 17, and 18, and to the answers to those questions. Those who were denied God’s rest were rebellious (v. 16), sinful (v. 17), and disobedient (v. 18). So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. (v. 19) Folks, let’s believe – and rest!! GLORY!
Slava Bohu!
Great reminder about the sabbath, Fred.
I was drawn to v. 13: we need to encourage and exhort each other daily so that none is hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Our fellowship with others in the church (universal) is critical!