Hebrews 3:7-4:16
Over the next few months, our morning gatherings will be working through the book of Hebrews, and our evening gatherings through the book of Daniel.
Readings for this week May 15 - 19
Click here for a pdf of this week’s readings
Day 1 – The Perils of Ingratitude
Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 minutes)
Scripture Reading – Hebrews 3:7-13
After being rescued from slavery in Egypt the Israelites showed a marked propensity for ingratitude. They grumbled against the God who had liberated them; they rebelled and questioned his authority and leadership, thinking they knew better. Because of this, the Israelites ended up wandering in the wilderness for 40 years before they were allowed to enter the promised land. (Exodus 16 contains an instance of such mutterings and Psalm 95, referenced here, looks back at the consequences.) God had rescued them, led them, provided for them, and still they complained about what he was doing and refused to follow as he directed.
The writer of Hebrews warns people not to harden their hearts against God – to heed the voice of the Holy Spirit when they hear it, rather than ignoring it or grumbling against it, or even heeding it but not obeying it right away. Hence the emphasis on “today.” When we hear from God, we need to listen, take notice, and act. When he wants us to do something, go somewhere, or speak out, we need to do so today and not wait. And God is speaking to us all the time, through his Spirit, through Scripture, through other people, through the events of life. He is speaking to us every day; we need to be listening, heeding and obeying every day. There is so much that God is calling us into, a world that needs to know his love, that needs to know he has rescued it and is still rescuing it now. As his rescued and redeemed people, let’s not ignore him or grumble against him; let’s listen and act when he asks us to.
Questions to Consider
What does listening to God look like in your life? How does God guide you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me act when you speak, without delay. May I listen prayerfully and obey faithfully when you speak. Erase the fear and lethargy that keep me from confidently following where you lead. Amen.
Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)
Day 2 – Guarding Against a Hardening Heart
Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 minutes)
Scripture Reading – Hebrews 3:14-19
So why did the Israelites fall away from faithful obedience and rebel against their divine rescuer? What was it that “hardened their hearts” against their God – a phrase also used to describe Pharoah in his refusal to obey God’s call (through Moses) to release the Israelites from captivity. (How far must they have fallen to be described the same way as the man who had been keeping them in slavery for so long?) Well, this relates back to yesterday’s reading about hearing God’s voice and acting on it. If we hear God’s voice – which is all around us through the Spirit, scripture and others – and we don’t act on it, then we will, over time and through repeated inaction, become immune to what he tells us. We’ll hear God less and less, which will then lead to us listening less and less. Our hearts will have been gradually hardened against him.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Even for most people who find themselves far from God and unable to hear his voice clearly, it wasn’t what they intended to have happen. It is usually less a sudden falling away and more a gradual descent down the slippery slope of engaging less with others, reading scripture less, praying less – a gentle drift as we are subtly pulled away from the habits and community that help sustain us. Hence the writer of Hebrews encouraging his readers to “hold our original convictions to the end” – that is, sharing in Christ, remembering that voice that first called us, ignoring those soft voices calling us away, and relying on God to provide us with what we need to remain close to him.
Questions to Consider
What causes you to drift away? What practices bring you back?
Prayer
Lord God, through your Word, your Spirit and your people, prompt me when I am in danger of falling away, slacking off and tuning out. Remind me again of your love and your call on my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)
Day 3 – God’s Rest
Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 minutes)
Scripture Reading – Hebrews 4:1-10
Our recent Sabbath series looked at the importance of rest, how the seventh day of rest that God himself modelled in the creation narrative illustrates the importance of this God-given idea of resting in him, enjoying his creation and the life he has given to us. Today’s passage reminds us of the importance of rest. The rebellious Israelites eventually got to enjoy rest when they finally made it to the promised land. God’s Sabbath day command is also mentioned, as is entering into ‘God’s rest’ – this latter rest coming with a warning that, as the rebellious Israelites found, it is possible not to be permitted to enter this final – ultimate – type of rest.
How can people “fall short” of this final type of rest? Verse 2 calls out those who failed to heed the good news and therefore failed to demonstrate obedience. Conversely, verse 3 mentions that people who have believed have entered that rest, implying that those who haven’t believed have not entered in. As with this week’s readings so far, it comes back to beliefs and actions, not one or the other, but both – the internal world and the external world together. This would have been particularly important for the Christian community being written to: predominantly Jewish, persecuted by the Romans, possibly even viewed with some suspicion by Gentile Christians. Holding to belief in Jesus Christ and acting on his call to share his love with and in the world is vital. When all around us is uncertain, this remains the bedrock of who we are.
Questions to Consider
How do belief and action go together in your life? What happens when they don’t? What do you do then?
Prayer
Gracious Lord, may I be worthy of entering into your rest. May my beliefs find true expression in my actions, and may those actions aid in bringing your love to others and the kingdom to fullness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)
Day 4 – God Sees All and Heals All
Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 minutes)
Scripture Reading – Hebrews 4:11-13
Do our words match our actions? Are they both offered in service to God? Are they both pointing to the reality of his rule and enjoining others to enter into his kingdom? Or is there a disjunction between them? Do we say one thing and is it immediately belied by our actions? Whatever we might tell ourselves, God knows the truth of it. However much we might try (and succeed) in hiding from others, we cannot hide from God. And while an all-knowing, all-seeing God who knows our most intimate thoughts can often be used to instil fear, I think there is greater cause to see this as a characteristic for us to be thankful for. Whatever may be happening, whatever ills and evils there may be, all will be answered for.
Nothing is hidden from God’s sight, including our thoughts and intentions. The word of God cuts right through our obfuscation and prevaricating self-justification. What we demand from him regarding other people – that he would reveal their true intentions, show up their falsehood and hypocrisy and bring judgement upon them – he also does for us. For most, this might seem frightening. And perhaps it is. But it does mean that nothing escapes his attention. He sees all and remembers all, and he promises one day that he will be all in all – that all wrongs will be righted, all injustice answered, all wounds healed. Everything will ultimately come to rest in God and a beautiful, just, loving God will ensure that creation will be complete.
Questions to Consider
What gives you hope? Where do you see hope lacking? What role can you play in bringing hope to others?
Prayer
Sovereign Lord, comfort and sustain those in our world who live without hope. Be with them and offer them hope in the shape of us, your followers, sharing your love and your promises with them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)
Day 5 – The One Who Intercedes for Us
Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 minutes)
Scripture Reading – Hebrews 4:14-16
This passage emphasises that we can have confidence when we approach God’s throne of grace. Jesus has ascended to the right hand of the Father; he is our great high priest, once and for all. He is the high priest who has lived a full human life and knows all of the trial and tribulation – and joy and excitement – that we experience, because he experienced them too. So when we approach the throne, we approach one who knows us and knows our experiences because he has lived them as well. The default position of the risen, exalted Lord is one of knowing us intimately – our hopes, fears, failings, loves, anxieties, everything. The fully human Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father and he knows, recognises, and acknowledges us as his own when we approach.
And while he sits at the Father’s right hand, Jesus intercedes for us, as Romans 8:34 states. With all that has been said about the return of Jesus (even in the Bible), both metaphorically and literally, the only thing we are told about the ascended Jesus is that he intercedes with his Father on our behalf. When we pray, he intercedes and joins his voice in support of ours. Not only can we approach the throne with the confidence that Jesus knows us, but also with the assurance that he is right now advocating for us. His love for us is ongoing. His Spirit is ever empowering and guiding – God with us. This is our high priest – God for us.
Questions to Consider
How does Jesus interceding for you affect your view and practice of prayer? How does it make a difference in how and what you pray?
Prayer
Almighty Father, thank you for listening to us, loving us, and wanting to hear from and speak to us. You are a God who actively loves and listens. Thank you for your Son’s intervention on our behalf. Amen.
Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)