Faith Rising: Daily Devotional Inspirations

MONDAY, 7 OCTOBER 2024

TEXT: Hebrews 4:1-16

1. The promise to enter the place of rest is still good, and we must take care that none of you miss out.

2. We have heard the message, just as they did. But they failed to believe what they heard, and the message did not do them any good.

3. Only people who have faith will enter the place of rest. It is just as the Scriptures say, “God became angry and told the people, ‘You will never enter my place of rest!’” God said this, even though everything has been ready from the time of creation.

4. In fact, somewhere the Scriptures say that by the seventh day, God had finished his work, and so he rested.

5. We also read that he later said, “You people will never enter my place of rest!”

6. This means that the promise to enter is still good, because those who first heard about it disobeyed and did not enter.

7. Much later God told David to make the promise again, just as I have already said, “If you hear his voice today, don’t be stubborn!”

8. If Joshua had really given the people rest, there would not be any need for God to talk about another day of rest.

9. But God has promised us a Sabbath when we will rest, even though it has not yet come.

10. On that day God’s people will rest from their work, just as God rested from his work.

11. We should do our best to enter the place of rest, so none of us will disobey and miss going there, as they did.

12. God’s word is alive and powerful! It is sharper than any double-edged sword. His word can cut through our spirits and souls and through our joints and marrow, until it discovers the desires and thoughts of our hearts.

13. Nothing is hidden from God! He sees through everything, and we will have to tell him the truth.

14. We have a great high priest, who has gone into heaven, and he is Jesus the Son of God. This is why we must hold on to what we have said about him.

15. Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin!

16. So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved grace, and we will find help.

(Contemporary English Version Holy Bible)

TOPIC: DON’T FALL SHORT OF ENTERING GOD’S REST

In the face of today’s challenges, the tendency to fall short of entering God’s rest is high. The journey cannot be straight without faith. It is possible to start well and not finish well because of disobedience.

God’s voice never stops calling us to be focused so that we can end well. We have the word of God, which is living, active and sharper than any double-edged sword.

The word works through judging the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts since nothing is hidden from God. We already have a great High Priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses.

He was tempted in many ways, just like the challenges we face daily, yet He is without sin.

In order not to fall short of entering God’s rest, we should have confidence in approaching His throne because we will always find grace whenever such a need arises.

QUESTION: What are you challenged to do in your Christian journey today?

PRAYER: Father, You reminded me today to realize that the race is not for the fit but for those who look up to You daily. Teach me to do just that today, in Jesus name. Amen.