- And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. Hebrews 3:18-19 – Before this study of Hebrews, we did a study of the book of Exodus where we see the nation of Israel finally stepping out of their centuries long slavery and were led to their Promised Land. This would be the land that God promised to give His people long ago and would be their home forever. Yet along the journey we see an ugly sin arise within the lives of the people of Israel, unbelief. Along the journey they turned to worship idols, they believed God was sending them out to the desert to kill them rather than bring them into a new home, and they refused to believe that God could defeat the enemies within Canaan. What do we see happen as a result of this unbelief in their heart? They weren’t allowed to enter into God’s rest, almost that whole generation was not allowed to enter the Promise Land. Unbelief today is also the gatekeeper for us to find rest with the Lord. Without a belief in the Lord no one can find the rest of eternal life. Yet even for one who follows Christ, when we don’t believe in God’s power or love for us or believe all of His words to us, we’ll never truly find the rest He promises His followers. You will find yourself lacking God’s peace, you will find yourself feeling isolated in life, you will believe you have no purpose beyond the worldly things in front of you. God’s rest is being in His presence enjoying the blessings that comes with a devoted life to Him. Don’t miss what God has to offer you because you’re allowing the unbelief in your heart to keep you from Him. Search out the answers to your questions, pray over the things you’re struggling to believe, and do all this in community with believers. Let your belief open the doors for God’s rest to be in your story. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3187
- But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:13 – This is why I want to give you these daily devotions here and on YouTube. Exhorting means to strongly encourage someone to do something. We are called to daily encourage each other to walk faithfully so we don’t fall into the lies of sin that are everywhere. I’m so proud of you who are walking strong in Christ today, but don’t use that strength only for yourself. You have brothers and sisters in Christ all around you who need some of your strength that God gave you. They need encouragement because they might not be walking as strong as you. The strength you have was not meant to lift you up, it was so you can help lift up others. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac
- For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. Hebrews 3:3 – For many of us, reading a verse like this one doesn’t really impact us that deeply, but for the Hebrews who this letter was written it would have been a world shaking line to hear. That Jesus was more worthy than Moses. For us when we are sharing the Gospel, there will be times we have to drop a bomb on people’s life that will be hard for them to handle. That the way they have been living isn’t right, that what they believe about God is off, that they need to change. Be gentle, but don’t back down from sharing the whole truth. Sometimes for the change that needs to take place in their life someone like you will have to be brave enough to let them know their life up to now hasn’t been going in the right direction. Only then can they truly turn to go a new direction. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 567
- Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years.” Hebrews 3:7-9 – The writer of Hebrews knew that this would grab their attention. For the Hebrew people the 40 year walk in the wilderness due to their rebellion was something of shame and a black mark in their history. Here it’s asked of them today to not make that same mistake again. That God has made of way of salvation, don’t close off your heart to Him and His provision just like your fathers once did. The message to us is the same, let us not close our hearts to what God is offering. We have salvation being given to us, open your hearts and take it. Strength, peace, joy, love, guidance, and help are being given too, open your heart to what is being offered to you. No longer close your heart and mind to who God is and what His brings. If we choose, we can walk in our stubbornness that leads to death just like the people in the wilderness or we can accept the help God gives and be free. You have the choice today to either soften your heart to God or harden it. Which is your choice? I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1599
Daily DEVO 