EHP Day 57-God’s Word, God’s Presence
Hebrews 4:11-13
Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 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. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
In Privilege the Text, Abraham Kuruvilla notes,
“…this ancient text (i.e., Scripture) must be preached to an audience in a manner that yields application to change lives for the glory of God…[understanding] Scripture as the viva vox Dei (living voice of God).”
The author of the N.T. book of Hebrews believes this. Scripture is God’s voice, living, active, sharp, probing and discerning, surgical and healing. When listening to Scripture we are in God’s presence, and He in ours. Fully disclosed to God, He eagerly urges excellence. As we reject disobedience and eschew quitting, He coaches us forward. That we might enter a future “rest” promised to those who run with endurance and finish well.
As the passage warns, some in Jesus nonetheless fall short. Like some in Israel, believing Yahweh was God yet still refusing to live obediently. At critical junctures, refusing to trust God, unfaithfulness resulted in loss of significant blessing and reward. God’s presence dishonored as God’s voice is disobeyed.
A pastor noted, “An F16 fighter jet is an amazing aircraft with incredible capabilities. But there is one thing that a jet pilot requires above all else. That the aircraft reacts completely to his control. If it were to have ‘a mind of its own’ regardless of how remarkable that might sound, it would end up doing as much flying as a door stop. In the same vein, even if we had all the gifting under the sun, God as the ultimate ‘pilot’ of our lives, will only do amazing and remarkable things with our lives if we are fully under His control.”
Journal Notes