Scripture

For only we who believe can enter his rest.

Observation

God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, but some will fail to enter it. This news that God has prepared His rest for us has been announced to us just as it was to the Old Testament believers.

Only we who believe can enter his rest. As for those who refuse to believe, God has said that they will never into his rest. God’s rest was prepared at the beginning of creation and it is there still for people to enter today.

Application

What is this rest that God has prepared for us ?

Firstly, it is the good news that we do not have to strive for salvation. We don’t have to fret about obeying laws and offering sacrifices for sin. We can rest in the assurance that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross has done away with the requirements of the law. We can relax because we know that God loves us with a never-ending love.

Secondly, the rest of God refers to the promise of Heaven. In the resurrected life of eternity, we will enjoy fellowship with God for ever. In our sin- infected world, life is beset with opposition, frustration, sickness, and death. In heaven, these things will no longer exist.

Rest not necessarily a cessation of labour. It is more related to the sense that our labour is fruitful and will not be undone by hostile forces, whether human, natural, or demonic.

We rest in God when we are at the centre of His will, both in this life and the next.

Prayer

Thank you Lord that even now I enjoy your rest. I don’t have to strive for acceptance because you have broken down the walls of separation in Christ. Amen

Scripture

You must warn each other every day while it is still “today” so that none of you will be deceived and hardened against God.

Observation

The Holy Spirit warns us not to harden our hearts when we hear the voice of God. The Israelites did this when they rebelled in the wilderness. God therefore took an oath that they would never enter His rest.

Therefore we must be careful not to harden our hearts lest we turn away from God. We must warn one another so that we can all be faithful and endure to the end.

It was God’s people who rebelled against Him and made Him angry. Because of unbelief they were unable to enter His rest.

Application

As a christian community we have a responsibility to one another to warn each other against sin.

God’s plan is not for a church you go to for an hour’s entertainment and spiritual food. No, His plan is that the church should be a strong and deep community where we encourage, exhort, and even warn each other of the dangers of sin .

This presupposes a level of transparency and mutual accountability that makes uncomfortable many people in our highly individualistic culture.

The truth is that we need other people in order to grow in our faith in the Lord. We need people that we can trust, be honest with, and share our deepest failings with.

This kind of community is a rare thing. Yet it is what every congregation should aspire to be.

Prayer

Lord, I pray for my church that you will make us into the community of faith you want us to become. Amen

Scripture

But Christ, as the Son, is in charge of Gods entire house. And we are gods house, if we keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ.

Observation

We must think carefully about Jesus, who is God’s messenger and High Priest. He was faithful to God, just as Moses was faithful.

But Jesus deserves more glory than Moses, just as the builder of a house deserves more praise than the house itself.

Moses was faithful as a servant of God, but Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus is in charge of God’s house, which is us, the faithful followers of Christ.

Application

Moses was a faithful servant of the Lord in leading the people of God, the house of Israel. But now Jesus comes to us as the Son of God, and he is leading a greater house, the house comprised of all who follow Christ.

Not only is this house a greater house than the old one, its leader is also greater. The old house was just Israel, but this new house comprises a worldwide Fellowship of believers. Moses was just a man, a servant of the Lord, but Jesus is the Son of God.

In the face of persecution some Jewish believers were going back to following the law of Moses. But why would you swap this greater expression of God’s love for something that is lesser and is passing away?

When we are tempted to turn away from God, the question is the same – why would you pass up the greater to take on the lesser thing?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, your kingdom is far greater than anything we can see or imagine. Help me to stand firm in you when the temptations surround me. Amen

Scripture

Because God’s children are human beings – made of flesh and blood – the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could be could he break the power of the devil who holds the power of death.

Observation

God chose to bring many beings to glory. Jesus was made a leader through suffering to bring us into salvation.

Now Jesus and the ones he saved have the same Father. He calls us His brothers and sisters.

Because we are flesh and blood, Jesus had to be also made flesh and blood in order to die and set us free from the power of death. Jesus was made in every way like us so he can be our High Priest before God.

Application

Jesus is the one who leads us to salvation. Because we are human beings, He also had to be made human in order to die for our sins.

The divine Son of God could not die without becoming a person, a part of the creation.

This is wonderful news for us. Jesus in dying on the cross took our place. The perfect Son of God received the punishment for our sins so that we could be free.

When Jesus overcame death, he also defeated satan’s power to condemn us. Death cannot hold down those who follow Jesus.

Prayer

Thank you Lord Jesus for defeating sin and death. Thank you for the promise of eternal life. Amen

Scripture

“You gave them authority over all things.” Now when it says, “all things,” it means nothing is left out. But we have not yet seen all things put under their authority.

Observation

It is not angels who will rule in the future. In Psalm 8, it says that mere mortals are only a little lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honour. Yet we will rule over all things, including the angels.

We do not yet rule over all things. But Jesus, who was given a position lower than the angels when He became a human, suffered death for us, and is now “crowned with glory and honour.”

Application

God’s intention was that people would have authority over all of creation. That includes the spirit realm as well as the physical creation.

But Adam’s sin took that authority away. Rather than reigning over all things, humanity is often limited by and overwhelmed by creation.

Over the centuries, we have learnt how to use technology to tame our world, but a plague, a flood, or a tsunami can still kill millions of people.

What we achieved through technology is meant to be achieved in relationship with God through faith in Christ. In the age to come, those who have been raised to life in Christ will rule over the new heavens and the new Earth.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for the destiny and the plan that you have for me in this life and in the life to come. Amen

Scripture

So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak?

Observation

We must listen carefully to the truth of God’s word, otherwise we may drift away from it. God’s message has always stood firm.

What makes us think we will be exempt from punishment if we ignore the salvation that has come to us through Jesus? God confirmed His message through signs and wonders, miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Application

How can we ignore the gospel and the salvation that comes to us through Jesus Christ? How could we turn our backs on such a precious gift from our lord?

There are two types of people who ignore the gift of salvation

1. The people who hear the word but ignore it, or even ridicule it. In their pride they see no need for salvation.

2. Those who received the word but, for whatever reason, they drift away from the truth. In the parable of the sower, Jesus suggested this was due to shallowness of conviction, the cares of the world, or deception by Satan that this happens.

It is so sad when people just turn their backs on Jesus. it is like they have tasted something wonderful and decided it’s not so good.

Prayer

Lord, I pray there for those people who once walked with you but no longer do so. Bring them back to you and your great salvation. Amen

Scripture

“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the Earth,

and made it with your hands.”

Observation

God the Father said of the Son, “You laid the foundations of the heavens and the earth. They will perish but you last for ever. You are always the same; you will live forever.”

God also said of His Son, not of the angels, “Sit in the place of honour.” Angels are only servants, spirits sent to care for believers.

Application

Both Paul and the writer to the Hebrews tell us that Jesus, God the Son, is the one who created and sustains all things. Jesus is not a mere human who came into existence and then died on the cross. No, He is the eternal and divine Son, the second person in the Holy Trinity.

I think we sometimes get confused about the nature of Christ – we put Him into the category of human being, an inspirational teacher and religious leader. No, He is God, and He is our creator just as much as God the Father is.

Jesus is eternal. He lives forever. The world seems old to us – whether it is 6000 years or 4.5 billion years, the heavens and the earth are old.

Jesus planned it all, made it and, at the end of time, He will fold it all up like an old piece of clothing. But He will continue for ever.

Those of us who will inherit salvation, the followers of Jesus, will also live forever. We will live longer than the Earth, the planets, and the stars. These things will pass away to make way for a new creation – and we are already a part of that.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you are my Saviour and Redeemer. Thank you for promising to keep me for eternity. Amen

Scripture

“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the Earth,

and made it with your hands.”

Observation

God the Father said of the Son, “You laid the foundations of the heavens and the earth. They will perish but you last for ever. You are always the same; you will live forever.”

God also said of His Son, not of the angels, “Sit in the place of honour.” Angels are only servants, spirits sent to care for believers.

Application

Both Paul and the writer to the Hebrews tell us that Jesus, God the Son, is the one who created and sustains all things. Jesus is not a mere human who came into existence and then died on the cross. No, He is the eternal and divine Son, the second person in the Holy Trinity.

I think we sometimes get confused about the nature of Christ – we put Him into the category of human being, an inspirational teacher and religious leader. No, He is God, and He is our creator just as much as God the Father is.

Jesus is eternal. He lives forever. The world seems old to us – whether it is 6000 years or 4.5 billion years, the heavens and the earth are old.

Jesus planned it all, made it and, at the end of time, He will fold it all up like an old piece of clothing. But He will continue for ever.

Those of us who will inherit salvation, the followers of Jesus, will also live forever. We will live longer than the Earth, the planets, and the stars. These things will pass away to make way for a new creation – and we are already a part of that.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you are my Saviour and Redeemer. Thank you for promising to keep me for eternity. Amen

Scripture

But to the Son he says,

“Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a sceptre of justice.”

Observation

“Jesus is superior to the angels. God never said to any angel, “You are my Son.” He also said, concerning Jesus, ” I will be his father, and he will be my Son.”

When Jesus came into the world God said, “Let all of God’s angels worship him.” The angels are servants of God, but Jesus is the Son, the one who reigns forever with a sceptre of Justice.

Application

Over the last few decades, we have seen in parts of the New Age Movement, a resurgence of the worship of angels.

The author of Hebrews points out that Jesus is greater than the angels; they are servants, but Jesus is the one who sits on the throne of God .

His throne endures forever; it is eternal. The Queen will one day pass away. There is speculation that one day in the future, the UK will abolish the monarchy altogether. Then the throne will pass away also.

But the reign of Jesus, His throne so to speak, it will last forever. Having died on the cross and defeated sin then rising from the dead, his rule is never ending.

We don’t worship created beings such as angels. We do not give our primary allegiance to any human ruler. No, we worship the King of Kings, the holy Son of God.

Prayer

Hallelujah! What a saviour! You alone, Lord Jesus, are worthy of my prayers. you reign for ever and ever. Amen

Scripture

The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his commands. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honour at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.

Observation

In the past, God spoke in many times and in many ways through the prophets. Now, He has given us the ultimate revelation through His Son.

The Son created the universe, and He radiates the glory of God. He expresses God’s character, and He sustains all things. After dying to cleanse us from sin, He ascended to sit in the place of honour beside the Father. The Son is greater than the angels.

Application

Jesus is the expression of the glory and the character of God. When we see Jesus, we see the Father. When we read of the miracles and understand the teaching of Jesus, then we see the heart of God.

The character and glory of God are seen above all in the death of Jesus on the cross. God could not bear to see us lost in our sin, so He took the punishment for us. Jesus, God in the flesh, absorbed all the wrath of God against human rebellion.

Now Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father. Having descended to the place of suffering, God raised him to the highest place of glory.

How can we do anything other than worship our Saviour? How can we do anything other than to surrender our redeemed lives back to him?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, I thank you for dying for me. Thank you for destroying the power of the Devil. Amen