Thoughts and Attitudes

 DEVOTION

TO HEBREWS

Heb 4:1-13

THOUGHTS AND ATTITUDES

4:1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.   3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, "So I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest.'" And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: "And on the seventh day God rested from all his work."   5 And again in the passage above he says, "They shall never enter my rest." 6 It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience. 7 Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath — rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

NIV

This same point is being made over and over again to build to the main reason of this letter which is faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to enter into the rest of God. Disobedience to that faith is falling short of that rest. The author of this letter points to creation when God was finished and he rested from all his work of creation. We know God is never done with his work in the sense that the work He is started in our lives and that he is the one who is going to complete that work. But as far as creation was concerned God rested on the seventh day and in doing so created the Sabbath, a day of rest for God’s people. Still, there is another day of rest, that some never entered because of their not believing God, or disobedience. Why would we want to be among those who did not enter his rest? We have obeyed God and accepted his offer of salvation through faith and faith alone in Jesus declaring him as our Lord and Savior. When we consider the word of God is living and active and that is this double-edged sword, and looks into our soul and spirit, and our bodies and judges our attitudes and hearts, we must know we cannot turn from faith and faith alone that saves us from our sins. Why would we want to return to being disobedient and looking to works, such as the law, or some rules and regulations as a method of salvation? We think most believers would agree that salvation is a free gift of God, and it is by faith we are saved, but then we must go to work at proving our faith by some form of works, looking to the do’s and the don’ts of Christianity. However, are we paying attention to our thoughts and attitudes? This is what that double-edged sword is penetrating. Are we just trying to look good in front of others, and yet within we are harboring ill thoughts about someone? Have we simply built our façade of righteousness while there is rottenness on the inside in the form of jealousy, envy, pride, rudeness, impatience, or some other attitude because we think more highly of ourselves than we should because of all sorts of thoughts and attitudes? Do we think our place in the body is any more or less important than any others? There is nothing hidden from God, and that includes our thoughts and attitudes. What are the two commands Jesus left us with? Are they not to love the Lord our God with our whole being, and the second is to love our neighbor as ourselves. Living this life of love is surely the way of God and entering into his rest through our faith in Jesus. Love will never fail us, let us have thoughts and attitudes of love both toward our God and our fellow man.