Heb 4:1  For as long, then, as that promise of resting in him pulls us on to God's goal for us, we need to be careful that we're not disqualified.

Heb 4:2  We received the same promises as those people in the wilderness, but the promises didn't do them a bit of good because they didn't receive the promises with faith.

Heb 4:3  If we believe, though, we'll experience that state of resting. But not if we don't have faith. Remember that God said, Exasperated, I vowed, "They'll never get where they're going, never be able to sit down and rest." God made that vow, even though he'd finished his part before the foundation of the world.

Heb 4:4  Somewhere it's written, "God rested the seventh day, having completed his work,"

Heb 4:5  but in this other text he says, "They'll never be able to sit down and rest."

Heb 4:6  So this promise has not yet been fulfilled. Those earlier ones never did get to the place of rest because they were disobedient.

Heb 4:7  God keeps renewing the promise and setting the date as today, just as he did in David's psalm, centuries later than the original invitation: Today, please listen, don't turn a deaf ear . . .

Heb 4:8  And so this is still a live promise. It wasn't canceled at the time of Joshua; otherwise, God wouldn't keep renewing the appointment for "today."

Heb 4:9  The promise of "arrival" and "rest" is still there for God's people.

Heb 4:10  God himself is at rest. And at the end of the journey we'll surely rest with God.

Heb 4:11  So let's keep at it and eventually arrive at the place of rest, not drop out through some sort of disobedience.

Heb 4:12  God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon's scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey.

Heb 4:13  Nothing and no one is impervious to God's Word. We can't get away from it--no matter what.

Heb 4:14  Now that we know what we have--Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God--let's not let it slip through our fingers.

Heb 4:15  We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all--all but the sin.

Heb 4:16  So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.

The Message Bible

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