Terry Storch

Writing about life, leadership, faith, and anything else I find interesting.

Hebrews 4:1-13 - Rest is Active

 

Hebrews 4:1-13 - Rest is Active

“Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.” - ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Remember when we see “therefore” in the Bible, we need to ask ourselves, what’s it there for? To get that information, we have to go backward before we go forwards. This opening of the chapter carried on the same thought in Hebrews 3 that unbelief kept the generation that escaped Egypt from entering Canaan. This promise from the Old Testament still stands, the promise of entering God’s Rest. 

“For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.” - ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This is where it gets fascinating to me, seeing some things that I just have not seen before. The promise remains of entering God’s rest, and we can enter into that rest by faith. Unbelief will make us fall short of the rest God has for us. Let’s think about that and personalize this for a moment. As a Christ-follower, I must process, and I ask you to process, our unbelief causes us to fall short of the rest God has for us. But we believe, right? 

Let’s connect God’s rest and unbelief. What causes us to fall short of God’s rest; worry, anxiety, stress, uncertainty, etc., etc. Living in a COVID-19 world, are you worried, stressed, uncertain? These are things of this world that are causing us to miss God’s rest. Are you stressed about your job, income, retirement, college funding, and so on and so forth? These are things that are causing us to miss God’s rest. These are things of this world that are producing unbelief! How can we truly believe and have full faith in Christ alone if we worried, stressed, and leaning on our understanding? 

“Therefore, since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” - ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:6-7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Today is the day to enter obedience, to step fully into faith and to place our daily, and moment by moment, trust in God. But there is a twist; this is not a passive exercise. This verse tells us that we must make every effort to enter that rest. 

“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

This sounds like work! Make every effort to enter that rest... Yes, it is work; it does take effort the place our trust and faith actively in God’s hands. This is the work that is worth it, that has a significant payoff, a payoff that far exceeds any monetary payoff we could ever receive. This is an excellent reminder for us.

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” - ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We will be held accountable for our obedience, our faith, putting our full trust in God. God’s rest is a beautiful place to live. This place of rest is not a single day in the week; this place is the abundance and love of God. Not because God loves us, but because God is love. God’s nature is love; it is not something He does; it is who he is. 

Finally, more around how to do this. How to place our full trust and faith in God. 

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” - ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The word of God is alive and active. Do not just place this as the Bible as the word of God. If we do that, we are limiting what the Scriptures teach us, and the fullness of what is in store for us. Remember the Gospel of John and the opening. 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭1:1-5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God is in all things, and He is the creator of all, and nothing was made apart from Him. The word of God is alive because it is God, active, and breathing. God is refining us, He is the double-edged sword, slicing away what needs to be cut from us. God exposes the word of God, Christ, Jesus' life, these expose our weaknesses and draws us to the central power that comes from resting in God. 

Today, today is the day to place our trust and faith in God actively. Following Jesus or raising our hand to follow God is not a one and done action, it is so much more than saying one time yes. Following Jesus is a consistent, daily, active faith to step into His rest. 

other writing
John 20 - The Gospel

John 20 - The Gospel

The Gospel, the Good News! Jesus, Son of God, was born of Mary, lived as the Son of Man, died, and rose to life to rescue the world and bring about a new life. The central message of the gospel. Jesus, the centerpiece! John 19 & 20 cover the brutal death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

In this scene, I can not imagine how the disciples felt. John describes them as overjoyed...but those words just fall short of what I can imagine this moment was like.

John 19 - The Magnitude of the Cross

John 19 - The Magnitude of the Cross

The day of Jesus' crucifixion fulfilled 28 Old Testament prophecies. Scripture was fulfilled! Beyond that, trying to wrap my mind around what happened this day, on the cross, and fully grabbing the magnitude of the cross is mind-boggling.

Sure, we can dumb this down or simplify it to a place where I just don’t believe it is anywhere near accurate. We can get into penal substitution and argue over was God full of love or was God full of wrath and hate that he killed his son. To me, John 3:16 is pretty clear on the love part.

John 18 - Jesus levels an army

John 18 - Jesus levels an army

In John 18, we come to the great betrayal. Judas came with the soldiers, officials, and chief priest and Pharisees. We know the scene. But this morning, I saw something I don’t remember reading and surly don’t remember learning about.

“So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭18:3-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 17 - The Lords Prayer

John 17 - The Lords Prayer

John 17 is Jesus looking heavenward and praying to God the Father. So much beauty and mystery in this prayer. One thing that jumps out to me is that Jesus, fully God, and fully man prayed. Jesus is God fully. Why did he need to pray, He was One with the Father, He was God...and yet he prayed. This is so powerful;

“And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭17:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 16 - What does it take to believe?

John 16 - What does it take to believe?

By the end of John 16, Jesus had done countless miracles, preached some amazing sermons, transformed so many lives, and developed a close and personal relationship with his disciples. So, when reading these verses, I am just utterly confused on so many levels.

“I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.” Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.” “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭16:28-31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 16 - Undervaluing God in Spirit

John 16 - Undervaluing God in Spirit

Jesus’ time on earth is quickly coming to a close, and he finishes up his last sermon or teaching to his disciples as they walk to Gethsemane. This final teaching was a heavy one that no doubt left his disciples with a heavy heart. Jesus said it this way;

“...None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭16:5-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus goes on to say;

John 15 - Constant Growth

John 15 - Constant Growth

We were built for growth, constant growth. From birth, all the way until our death, we were designed by God for constant growth. The problem is, we often can find ourselves stuck in a belief, a phase, or a part of life where we stop growing.

One of the most brilliant investors embodies this understanding. Charlie Munger, at 96 years old, is still learning and growing as a person. I love this quote:

“Knowing what you don’t know is more useful than being brilliant.”
- Charlie Munger

John 14 - The Gift of Peace

John 14 - The Gift of Peace

John 14 opens with Jesus, saying, Don’t let your hearts be troubled. And the chapter closed down with Jesus saying Don’t be troubled or afraid.

A message that needs to resonate with our spirit and our inner self. This was such a good reminder, reading through John 14 over and over. This passage lifted off the screen.

“But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart…

John 14 - Troubled Hearts

John 14 - Troubled Hearts

The world today seems so volatile and chaotic. Everywhere you look, whatever we read and see on TV just seems to be troubling. Last night, I noticed my lovely wife Tweeted this;

“I can’t be the only one who watches the news and is simply embarrassed right now, right? (Dear Jesus, we tap out. Come on back.)”

I find this first humorous, but then I also find it sad. It’s true, watching the news as a Christ-follower is pretty embarrassing. In John 14, we see Jesus…

John 13 - Unselfish Concern

John 13 - Unselfish Concern

Summarizing John, chapter 13, looks like this. The Lords Supper takes place. Jesus washes the disciple's feet. Jesus calls out Judas, and Satan enters him. Night comes, Judas leaves, and Jesus says he must go, and where I am going, you can not come. To cap it all off, Jesus also calls out Simon Peter and tells him that he will deny and completely disown Jesus three times. Whoa, a really full chapter, and historical day.

Nestled in the wrap up of the day is the parting message Jesus leaves his disciples, a message Jesus is sharing with us right now.

 
thoughtsTerry Storch