Day 63: Hebrews 4-6
Here we go:
One of the most common phrases out of my mouth is I’m tried. I expend a lot of energy and I go as hard as I can as often as I can but that leaves me dependent on coffee which eventually leads me to a crash. Throughout scripture there is the command of obeying the Sabbath. It is mention from the very start, passed down the mountain by Moses, and prophetically talked about until the time of Jesus. Jesus constantly butted heads with it making the tough to swallow statement that He was Lord of the Sabbath. Here in Hebrews 4 we are reminded once again of one of God’s oldest promises and that is of entering His rest. What jumps for me is that it takes effort to rest according 4:11. It takes work to rest from our work. Could I suggest that maybe one of the reasons that we do not have enough rest is that we are not working on it. Where is your discipline as it relates to rest, sleep, and Sabbath?
Chapter 5 is mostly about Jesus being the High Priest in the line of Melchizedek (one of the best names in scripture). Jesus learned obedience through suffering. So here is my thought – Are we disobedient by choosing complacency and comfort? We avoid suffering at all costs. I know I’m prone to upgrade as soon as I can in any area of life. Where is God inviting you to suffer?
Chapter 6 starts with some deep thoughts and calls them simple. The bigger issue in chapter 6 relates to those who have fallen away and those who have anchored their hope in Christ. Without a good anchoring we will drift away. How do you anchor yourself each day?
Timely post. First thought about rest. I heard Mike Bickle say once that he never does anything without purpose and a Kingdom reason, and that includes rest. His rest is with and for a purpose–so that he can be renewed and healthy to be poured out. I like the idea, but I’m awful at following through.
Also, God has been hammering me on the suffering issue. I know that he’s calling me (as he is all of us) to join him in his suffering–to suffer, as much as it’s possible, like he did. I miss that a lot. I always, always, ALWAYS pray to be delivered FROM suffering. Maybe I should be praying to be delivered INTO suffering. Not for the sake of drama, but because Scripture says that it’s a privilege to suffer for him. Don’t know how any of that works out theologically, but . . . it’s been on my mind and heart for weeks now.
The other side to that is–if he is strong in my weakness, but I avoid weakness at all costs, then . . . when does he ever get to show himself to be strong in my life?