We Need to Work WITH God

In talking about the people of Israel, the writer of Hebrews shares their fatal flaw.  They did not act on what they heard.  God said "I give you the promised land, take it."  And they saw giants and ran the other way.  It was more than a failure, it was a disregard for the promise of God's Word.  And God takes His Word very seriously.


Hebrews 4:2 (NLT) For this good news—that God has prepared this rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God.

God's word did not benefit them, because they did not act on it.

There are a lot of Christians who are sitting idly by in the stands of God's raceway - hoping some magic spell will fall over them to make them what God wants.  

This will not happen.  Yes, God wills us to will, but there are times when we are going to have to put in the effort.

Notice later the writer does not dare leave us with an idea that we passively sit by and wait for God to perfect us or do for us what He wills.

Hebrews 4:11 (NLT) So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.

We must work WITH GOD on our lives.  In he ESV it says "let us strive" to enter that rest.  The process of life change is a work of God, but it is an effort on our part.  I know personally, there are times when I don't want anything to do with it.  There are seasons where I'm longing to go it alone.  But this is where effort comes in.  This is where God leaves us to test what is in us.  And those are the moments we take up our cross and follow even when we least feel like it.  

PRAYER:

Father, I know that I'm going through one of those times right now.  I ask you to draw near to me again and bring me back to a fire and passion for your Word and your Work.  Envelop me in your will.  Fill me with Your Spirit.  Amen.