Lectionary Calendar

Saturday, November 23rd, 2024
the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33

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HebrewsHeb 3 HebrewsHeb HebrewsHeb 5

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The Believer's Rest

¹ Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still remains and is freely offered today, let us fear, in case any one of you may seem to ^(C1)come short of reaching it or think he has come too late.² For indeed we have had the good news of salvation preached to us, just as the Israelites also when the good news of the promised land came to them; but ^(C1)the message they heard did not benefit them, because it was not united with faith in God by those who heard.³ For we who believe that is, we who personally trust and confidently rely on God enter that rest so we have His inner peace now because we are confident in our salvation, and assured of His power, just as He has said,

"^(C1)AS I SWORE an oath IN MY WRATH,
THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST,"
this He said although His works were ^(F1)completed ^(C2)from the foundation of the world waiting for all who would believe. ^(VR1)

⁴ For somewhere in Scripture He has said this about the seventh day: "AND GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORKS"; ⁵ and again in this, "THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST." ⁶ Therefore, since the promise remains for some to enter His rest, and those who formerly had the good news preached to them failed to grasp it and did not enter because of their unbelief evidenced by disobedience,⁷ He again sets a definite day, a new "Today," providing another opportunity to enter that rest by saying through David after so long a time, just as has been said before in the words already quoted,

"^(C2)TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE,
DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS." ^(VR1)

⁸ This mention of a rest was not a reference to their entering into Canaan. For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not speak about another day of opportunity after that.⁹ So there remains a full and complete Sabbath rest for the people of God.¹⁰ For the one who has once entered His rest has also rested from the weariness and pain of his human labors, just as God rested from those labors uniquely His own. ¹¹ Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest of God, to know and experience it for ourselves, so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience as those who died in the wilderness.¹² For the word of God is living and active and full of power making it operative, energizing, and effective. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit the completeness of a person, and of both joints and marrow the deepest parts of our nature, exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.¹³ And not a creature exists that is concealed from His sight, but all things are open and exposed, and revealed to the eyes of Him with whom we have to give account.

¹⁴ Inasmuch then as we believers have a great ^(C1)High Priest who has already ascended and ^(C2)passed through the heavens, Jesus ^(C3)the Son of God, let us hold fast our ^(C4)confession of faith and cling tenaciously to our absolute trust in Him as Savior.¹⁵ For we do not have ^(C1)a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been ^(C2)tempted knowing exactly how it feels to be human in every respect as we are, yet ^(C3)without committing any sin.¹⁶ Therefore let us with privilege ^(C1)approach the throne of grace that is, the throne of God's gracious favor with ^(C2)confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy for our failures and find His amazing grace to help in time of need an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment.

HebrewsHeb 3 HebrewsHeb HebrewsHeb 5

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The Believer's Rest