There Remains a Sabbath Rest!
Scripture Reading — Hebrews 4:6-11
There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God… Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest …
—Hebrews 4:9, 11
The years Israel spent in the wilderness were a time of testing. Would they learn to trust in God to provide for their every need? Unfortunately, they often grumbled against Moses, God’s appointed leader. They complained, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?” (Exodus 17:3). They continued to quarrel with one another to the point where they began to doubt whether God was with them at all (Exodus 17:7). They became so angry that Moses began to fear for his life (Exodus 17:4).
Reflecting later on that experience, the psalmist wrote, “Today, if only you would hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did … in the wilderness” (Psalm 95:7-8).
The writer of Hebrews wants us to know that “Today” is still the day of God’s grace! Don’t follow the example of the people in the wilderness whose hearts were hardened. Enter into the Sabbath rest God has for you. Salvation is not found through our own efforts or our own work. We can rest because Jesus has won salvation for us through his sacrifice on the cross. We don’t need to bring anything to God other than our need for mercy.
There remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God!
Lord, today I place my trust in you for salvation. Thank you for your Son, Jesus, who made my eternal rest possible by offering his life on my behalf. Help me to rest in him! Amen.
About the author — Shawn Brix
Rev. Shawn Brix has served as pastor in several Ontario churches. He and his wife, Jenny, have three children.
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