Hebrews 4:1-16
4:1 Our constant acknowledgement and maintenance of our faith ensures that we are constantly able to access the blessings which come through faith. God's rest is always within our reach logically, if we are grasping onto Him.
4:2 We must be participants in our faith. We are offered so much: healing, love, wisdom, understanding, compassion, opportunity, guidance. Yet if we do not give those offerings our acknowledge, trust or permission to entire our lives, they cannot enter our lives. Think of your faith as a tunnel, the longer and broader it is, the more that can fit through it. Think of your faith as a lung, the constant exchange between your soul and God promotes a healthy and productive relationship.
4:3 Faith keeps a soul tethered to humility and compassion, justice and truth. Faith, rather than a specific definition of God or organization of religion, is a soul's connection with spirituality, with nature. We are encouraged here to develop our faith because unmoored to it, we render ourselves lost amidst disparity, greed, injustice, temptation and deception.
4:4 If the most you can muster is faith, agreement and fellowship, with goodness... muster it. Develop that faith, remain with it. Essentially, that is belief in God and it will guide you. The natural order of life was established an infinity ago, there is order and purpose here... and it is rooted in love. God created life and simultaneously, the conditions would would promote life and allow life rest. Rest is available to you: accept it, welcome it, claim it.
4:5 Evil, greed, injustice, war, disparity, fear, darkness, unkindness are unable to enter the spiritual rest. Rest in the spiritual is to be very much alive, alive and unchallenged, invulnerable... only kind souls are eligible. Rather than sparking fear, this should be a peace for us: none of our troubles can follow us into God's protection.
4:6 Disobedience is any thought, act or word done in contradiction to compassion. Some have chosen that path and have thus become an example to us. They threw away their rest.
4:7 Do not harden your hearts... be open-minded, listen. Contemplate. Faith is a journey of development. You are loved with power: Luke 17:6 So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
Even small, budding faith allows God to proudly proclaim you as His own. As you allow Him more and more space in your life, He's going to fill it with blessings.
4:8-9 Although God provides comfort and love, guidance and protection for us while we are here on earth, this is still very much a journey. A journey of character development. A journey of soul establishment. Now is our time to work through our faith for justice and compassion and in the spiritual life following this one, we will rest from our works in all of the love and joy we produced.
Remember that faith without works is dead here on earth: James 2:14-26. God speaks of another day because this life on earth is not (does not have to be) our final destination. God uncovers and helps us along the path toward another life, it is our choice and effort to follow.
4:10 God did His work (and continues to work) and now awaits us in His place of rest. That restful place is the life in which we are alive in joy and perfection, eternity and wisdom. The place where the arduous work of constantly battling injustice is over, the battle won.
4:2 We must be participants in our faith. We are offered so much: healing, love, wisdom, understanding, compassion, opportunity, guidance. Yet if we do not give those offerings our acknowledge, trust or permission to entire our lives, they cannot enter our lives. Think of your faith as a tunnel, the longer and broader it is, the more that can fit through it. Think of your faith as a lung, the constant exchange between your soul and God promotes a healthy and productive relationship.
4:3 Faith keeps a soul tethered to humility and compassion, justice and truth. Faith, rather than a specific definition of God or organization of religion, is a soul's connection with spirituality, with nature. We are encouraged here to develop our faith because unmoored to it, we render ourselves lost amidst disparity, greed, injustice, temptation and deception.
4:4 If the most you can muster is faith, agreement and fellowship, with goodness... muster it. Develop that faith, remain with it. Essentially, that is belief in God and it will guide you. The natural order of life was established an infinity ago, there is order and purpose here... and it is rooted in love. God created life and simultaneously, the conditions would would promote life and allow life rest. Rest is available to you: accept it, welcome it, claim it.
4:5 Evil, greed, injustice, war, disparity, fear, darkness, unkindness are unable to enter the spiritual rest. Rest in the spiritual is to be very much alive, alive and unchallenged, invulnerable... only kind souls are eligible. Rather than sparking fear, this should be a peace for us: none of our troubles can follow us into God's protection.
4:6 Disobedience is any thought, act or word done in contradiction to compassion. Some have chosen that path and have thus become an example to us. They threw away their rest.
4:7 Do not harden your hearts... be open-minded, listen. Contemplate. Faith is a journey of development. You are loved with power: Luke 17:6 So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
Even small, budding faith allows God to proudly proclaim you as His own. As you allow Him more and more space in your life, He's going to fill it with blessings.
4:8-9 Although God provides comfort and love, guidance and protection for us while we are here on earth, this is still very much a journey. A journey of character development. A journey of soul establishment. Now is our time to work through our faith for justice and compassion and in the spiritual life following this one, we will rest from our works in all of the love and joy we produced.
Remember that faith without works is dead here on earth: James 2:14-26. God speaks of another day because this life on earth is not (does not have to be) our final destination. God uncovers and helps us along the path toward another life, it is our choice and effort to follow.
4:10 God did His work (and continues to work) and now awaits us in His place of rest. That restful place is the life in which we are alive in joy and perfection, eternity and wisdom. The place where the arduous work of constantly battling injustice is over, the battle won.
4:11 Therefore be diligent. Develop your faith, maintain the work done in its name. Do do not choose chaos. Tether yourself to justice, to compassion. In every moment. Every expression. Every thought. Be level-headed, perceptive, kind, brave, thoughtful.
4:12 We are each so well known by God. He knows us better than we know ourselves... He understands us. This philosophy is alive and powerful and we are witnesses of that life and power, we can feel its force in our lives. As we navigate life, It supports us, finds ways to make us smile, and provides path and opportunity.
Our thoughts are known... even our intentions. Intention to be kind, always. Kindness is a bold, bright and unfailing beacon. Kindness is being fair, honest, productive, wise. Kindness is to never sink to a lower level in effort to match someone's injustice to you in order to accomplish vengeance. God's children are on a platform... we do not need to descend from it and do any dirty work. Give Him permission and trust to always settle the score on your behalf.
4:13 He knows your circumstances from an omniscient and omnipotent view. He knows the intricate details of our lives down here (both separate from and in relation to others). Trust that He can handle the grittier circumstances. Your job is to be kind. His job to protect your right and opportunity to do so. His job is to shield you from people who take advantage and under-appreciate you.
Remember His guidance always: if ever you are not appreciated, you pick yourself up and you move on. You do not remain and engage in dispute and fighting... you move on. Be a kind soul... God best empathizes and supports such a soul.
4:12 We are each so well known by God. He knows us better than we know ourselves... He understands us. This philosophy is alive and powerful and we are witnesses of that life and power, we can feel its force in our lives. As we navigate life, It supports us, finds ways to make us smile, and provides path and opportunity.
Our thoughts are known... even our intentions. Intention to be kind, always. Kindness is a bold, bright and unfailing beacon. Kindness is being fair, honest, productive, wise. Kindness is to never sink to a lower level in effort to match someone's injustice to you in order to accomplish vengeance. God's children are on a platform... we do not need to descend from it and do any dirty work. Give Him permission and trust to always settle the score on your behalf.
4:13 He knows your circumstances from an omniscient and omnipotent view. He knows the intricate details of our lives down here (both separate from and in relation to others). Trust that He can handle the grittier circumstances. Your job is to be kind. His job to protect your right and opportunity to do so. His job is to shield you from people who take advantage and under-appreciate you.
Remember His guidance always: if ever you are not appreciated, you pick yourself up and you move on. You do not remain and engage in dispute and fighting... you move on. Be a kind soul... God best empathizes and supports such a soul.
4:14-15 The human condition is understood by our creator. He is informed and familiar with every aspect of our lives, minds, bodies and souls here. Find comfort in that: He knows precisely how to help you. He can sympathize with our weaknesses here.
4:16 Therefore be bold in faith, accept the wise love and support that is offered. For when you are weak, He is strong: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.
4:16 Therefore be bold in faith, accept the wise love and support that is offered. For when you are weak, He is strong: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.
