DAY 351 Read Hebrews 4 through 6.
Today's reading continues the appeal of chapter 3 for accepting Christ. Then it gives a short discussion of God's "rest" before launching the detailed study of Christ's priesthood.
Memory gem: "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his" (Hebrews 4:9, 10).
Thought for today:
Millions of people are nervous, run-down, dissatisfied, and ill today because they do not follow God's plan of rest. It is held by many authorities that man himself is built on the principle of the seventh portion of time being dedicated to the enjoyment of repose. Both body and mind need relaxation from the pressure of worldly pursuits and cares. Even from a medical point of view, it seems that the Sabbath forms part of the remedial system of nature. The God who created man knows what is good for him, but so many men do not realize what is good for themselves.
But the Sabbath was not to be a period of physical rest alone. Notice the command of God: "Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy" (Exodus 20:8). There is the matter of holiness in it, a matter of religious and spiritual worship. D. L. Moody saw this and said that this Sabbath question is a valid one for the whole country. If we give up Sabbath, soon the church goes; and if we give up the church, the home goes; and as the home goes, the nation goes. Sad to say, that is the direction in which millions of people are traveling today.
Let us remember this: Only those who believe have entered into God's rest. Hebrews 4:3. Only those who keep themselves holy can keep the Sabbath holy. True Sabbath keeping is a spiritual service to be rendered by a Spirit-filled person. The Sabbath should be a bit of heaven transferred to earth.
NOTE: The word translated "rest" in Hebrews 4:9 is a totally different word from the noun and verbs for "rest" in other verses of chapter 3 and 4. The word occurs nowhere else in the Bible or in classical Greek literature. A careful study of the context makes it clear that this word (sabbatismos) means more than the Sabbath rest; it covers the spiritual rest, and particularly the Christian's rest. However, from numerous other texts it can be shown that keeping God's Sabbath is a definite part of the spiritual rest God wishes His people to enter.
Today's reading continues the appeal of chapter 3 for accepting Christ. Then it gives a short discussion of God's "rest" before launching the detailed study of Christ's priesthood.
Memory gem: "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his" (Hebrews 4:9, 10).
Thought for today:
Millions of people are nervous, run-down, dissatisfied, and ill today because they do not follow God's plan of rest. It is held by many authorities that man himself is built on the principle of the seventh portion of time being dedicated to the enjoyment of repose. Both body and mind need relaxation from the pressure of worldly pursuits and cares. Even from a medical point of view, it seems that the Sabbath forms part of the remedial system of nature. The God who created man knows what is good for him, but so many men do not realize what is good for themselves.
But the Sabbath was not to be a period of physical rest alone. Notice the command of God: "Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy" (Exodus 20:8). There is the matter of holiness in it, a matter of religious and spiritual worship. D. L. Moody saw this and said that this Sabbath question is a valid one for the whole country. If we give up Sabbath, soon the church goes; and if we give up the church, the home goes; and as the home goes, the nation goes. Sad to say, that is the direction in which millions of people are traveling today.
Let us remember this: Only those who believe have entered into God's rest. Hebrews 4:3. Only those who keep themselves holy can keep the Sabbath holy. True Sabbath keeping is a spiritual service to be rendered by a Spirit-filled person. The Sabbath should be a bit of heaven transferred to earth.
NOTE: The word translated "rest" in Hebrews 4:9 is a totally different word from the noun and verbs for "rest" in other verses of chapter 3 and 4. The word occurs nowhere else in the Bible or in classical Greek literature. A careful study of the context makes it clear that this word (sabbatismos) means more than the Sabbath rest; it covers the spiritual rest, and particularly the Christian's rest. However, from numerous other texts it can be shown that keeping God's Sabbath is a definite part of the spiritual rest God wishes His people to enter.
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