Verse of the Day 8/12

Verse of the Day 8/12

Hebrews 4:11-12

New King James Version

11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Grieving is hard, but there will be times in our lives when we must go through that process.  God's Word and His grace can help us as can talking with those who have gone through similar situations and cann encourage us that things will get better.  Something that helped me recently was heariing a song in church last Sunday that spoke of God's rest.  It helps me to know that Jean is at rest, at peace.  Her long battle is over and she has won, she has earned her rest.

[Chorus 2: Aaron Williams & Taylor Leonhardt]
You'rе the way the truth and the life
You're the well that never runs dry
I'm the branch and You are the vine
Draw me close and teach me to abide
Be my strength my song in the night
Be my all my treasure my prize
I am Yours forever Your mine
Draw me close and teach me to abide

[Verse 3: Aaron Williams & Taylor Leonhardt]
When I pass through death
As I enter rest
I depend on You
I depend on You
For eternal life
To be raised with Christ
I depend on You
I depend on You

Pastor James Smith writes:

To the weary and way-worn, there is something delightful in the thought of REST.

They love to think of Heaven as the place where they shall "rest from their labors."

REST gives us the idea of . . .

repose--the calm, quiet repose of the soul;

refreshment--the refreshment of the exhausted spirit after conflict, sickness, or toil;

restoration to vigor--after debility, languor, and fainting.

Heaven will be a rest . . .

from sin--which will no more grieve us;

from sorrow--which will no more trouble and distress us;

from fears--which will no more harass and perplex us; and

from conflicts--which will no more agitate and suppress us.

It will be a rest . . .

with God in His glory,

with Jesus in His immediate presence,

with saints and holy angels in full perfection and blessedness.

This rest is FUTURE--it remains for the people of God. 

Rest assured.

Blessings,

Mike

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Hebrews 4:1-12

New King James Version

The Promise of Rest

4 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, [a]not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:

"So I swore in My wrath,
'They shall not enter My rest,' "

although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: "And God rested on the seventh day from all His works"; 5 and again in this place: "They shall not enter My rest."

6 Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, 7 again He designates a certain day, saying in David, "Today," after such a long time, as it has been said:

"Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts."

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

The Word Discovers Our Condition

11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV