Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule: Proverbs 27-29; Hebrews 4
Devotional Thought:
Hebrews 4 continues the thought from the previous chapters regarding not putting off the necessary decision for salvation. However, in this chapter we find the reason why. The word “rest” in this chapter has the meaning of stopping your work. It carries the idea of laboring with exertion and then ceasing to labor. It also has the idea of experiencing freedom from pressures or that, which disturbs me. God challenges these Jewish people to come to Him for salvation and experience rest. Christ says, come experience rest from your feeble attempts to reach salvation by your own works, or experience the rest that comes to your soul when you give me the burdens of your heart, or experience the rest that comes from knowing I have everything under control. It is interesting how many Christians come to God in faith believing what He has said concerning salvation, but do not experience the daily rest that comes from casting all our cares upon Him. Jesus says to us this morning, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30) There are many Christians who struggle day in and day out because they hold on so tightly to the steering wheel of their life. They believe God’s way of providing salvation is perfect and they have accepted it by faith. However, they are not as convinced that this same perfect God has their life completely under control and will work out a perfect plan. Therefore, they fret and stew over all kinds of details of their life. They are convinced their eternity is secure, but they do not believe their day-by-day or moment-by-moment is nearly as secure. They live life annoyed by things, frustrated by things, worrying about things, and trying to control things. They experience very little rest! Verse 13 reminds us that God sees everything going on in our lives. God Himself is watching all those things that are annoying you, frustrating you, confusing you, disappointing you, and worrying you. He knows exactly what you are facing today in your life and He wants to give you rest. Verses 14-15 teach us that He not only knows what we are facing, He knows how it feels. He really does care and He really does know! So He tells us to come boldly before His throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace in time of need. Do you need mercy for some struggle in your life? Do you need grace for some trial? Run to Jesus, whose arms are open wide, and hear Him saying, “Come unto me… I will give you rest.”
Personal Requests:
• Lord, please help me to trust you with every detail of my life. You are in control working out your perfect plan that will bring Glory to your holy name.
• Lord, please help me to truly rest, knowing you have everything under control. Help me to exercise as much faith each day as I exercise regarding my salvation.
• Lord, thank you for caring for me and for noticing everything that is happening in my life. Please help me to give the same mercy to others that you promise to me, and help me to demonstrate the same grace toward others that you provide for me.
• Lord, thank you for the security I have in knowing I can run to you at any time, for anything, and you will care for me.