THOUGH NOT A HEBREW

THOUGH NOT A HEBREW

Friday, November 02, 2018

   Romans 12:1-2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

   2Timothy 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

  More than once I’ve heard some variation of the following, “I’m not a Hebrew so that book is not written to me. Either way it’s confusing anyhow!”

  All of God’s Word is edifying and applicable to one and all whatever we think we are.

  Hebrews is very much about Jesus as High Priest. (2:17; 3;1; 4:14-15; 5:1, 5, 10; 6:20; 7:1, 26; 8:1, 3; 9:7, 11, 25; 10:21; 13:11) The book tells much about God’s provision and as is themed throughout Scripture that we are responsible to personally acquire knowledge of and exercise any and all wisdom gained. God does not spoon or force feed. Even manna and quail as the result of grumbling must be gathered and eaten fresh.

  One of my wise mentors once again encouraged me to use Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance to find all of the “rest” verses in Hebrews. Doing so and reading in immediate context and then the entire book and then considering in the truth of the greater text (All Scripture) was enlightening.

  Knowing that godliness includes not being a spoon feeder  but as Paul did with Timothy, equip and urge to responsibly study, here I provide from KJV the “rest” verses. Prayerfully … In your personal Bible read them, read them in immediate context, read them in the context of Hebrews, consider the message in light of all Scripture (making use of topical and chain reference if your Bible has these helps). Go beyond intellect and quietly allow God’s Holy Spirit to speak to you. (2Tim.3:7)

  Hebrews 3:11, 18  So I [God] sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) … And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?

  4:1  Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

  4:3-5  For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.

  4:8-11  For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 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. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

  Finally, as a mentor said, “A hammock will never come to us. We must go to it and it does take our effort to get there and rest thereupon”

EBB4