Rest

Rev Dr Chew spoke to us from Hebrews 4:1-13 today. With that I now realise how I have missed the context of Hebrews 4:12, For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

While we can read the verse and apply to our lives by knowing that God's word is indeed living and can cut through us exposing and teaching us, I admit I am surprise at its original context. Hebrews 4:1-11 talks about the Gospel that we have already received, making us the heir to the promise of entrance into God's rest. we are to be obedient in entering God's rest. Because through his word, he will speak to us - and the commandments that were once given to the Israelites on observing the Sabbath now confronts us with the same alternatives of rest and wrath (Lane, WBC, 2002).

The focus of the passage is rest in God, not the Word of God. The lesson is the fact that God had taken the time after the 6 days of creation to enjoy his work and we, the creatures of his creation, are to join him in that celebration, to celebrate life, to worship Him as the creator and to rest in his presence. It is not the legalistic, thou shall not work law but a putting aside of the stuff that constrain us everyday and spend the time with Him, in Him, for Him.

pearlie