Hebrews 4:1-10
I really love yesterday’s reading and today’s reading, sections on God’s rest for his people. Yesterday I commented on our Sabbath rest, that Carol and I have actively resisted working at our money jobs on Sundays. We also try not to even do house chores on Sunday. And I remember that my father might have hay cut or crops to get in – even if Sunday was clear and sunny with rain called for Monday he would not do the farm work on Sunday. He set a good example for me, as we should set for our own children.
But frankly, I don’t think the writer of Hebrews is talking about a once-a-week rest. I think his “rest”, even his “Sabbath rest” in verse 9 is referring to a greater rest for the people of God. And I truly feel like I am living in that rest. All the worries and concerns in the world today are just that – in the world. But we are living “outside the world” – in the world but not of the world.
The word “rest” occurs ten times in today’s reading, including verse 11a, which is one of my all-time favorites: Let us therefore strive to enter that rest… Just as this “rest” in chapters 3 and 4 is a gift, not a requirement, so also verse 11 is an encouragement, not a command – and I like encouragement! Let us strive to enter…!!! Glory!!
Slava Bohu!