one step: Hebrews 4.4

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

It should come as a point of major comfort that Jesus Christ: 1) passed through the heavens, 2) is the Son of God, 3) can sympathize with our weaknesses by being tempted as we are, 4) and is without sin. Why? Let’s address each:

1. Passed through the heavens: The High Priests of the Old Testament tradition were the only ones allowed into the Holy of Holies (the inner most part of the Temple) to petition God on behalf of the people. Jesus went further than that, going to the very resting place of God to petition on our behalf. There is no further that He could go for us.*

2. Is the Son of God: Jesus, as the Son of God, is eternal. This means that the one who speaks on our behalf before God the Father has no end. Thus, there is no end to the grace, forgiveness, and connection with God that we all desperately need in order to enjoy relationship with God the Father.*

3. Can sympathize with our weaknesses by being tempted as we are: In the Old Testament Jewish structure, the High Priest of the Temple was seen as someone separate. Up until Jesus, the piety of the High Priest and his perfection was measured by an elimination of emotions and sympathy.* Jesus came as the Great High Priest endured the maximum of temptation, and offered emotion and sympathy to us all.* He understands whatever difficulty we go through.* Who can understand all that we can go through? How many times have we felt that no one understands our temptation, struggle, or pain? Only God can achieve the level of sympathy that understands and cares for all people and in every way.*

4. Is without sin: Jesus overcame. He did not succumb to the universal and timeless temptations of hatred, murder, greed, dishonesty, and lust.* When is our experience of temptation greatest? Right before we give into it.* Jesus never gave into it, therefore He experienced temptation at its absolute pinnacle.* He experienced higher levels of temptation than we ever have or will. This victory over temptation and sin allows Him to be the ultimate substitutional and purifying sacrifice for us.*

All of this was done that we might approach God boldly.

It should blow our minds that the Great High Priest, who actually sympathizes with us (though tradition says He shouldn’t), actually went to the holiest place of all (heaven), eternally set things right for us with God by overcoming all of the temptations that we have experienced including natural weariness, disappointment, the feeling of desertion, and shrinking from pain.* It should blow our minds that we can now approach God boldly! It should blow our minds, so why doesn’t it blow our minds? Why doesn’t it bring us comfort?

It’s easy to hear that Jesus understands and that He was perfect and that He paid the price for our sin so that we can have relationship with God and think, “oh, I’ve heard all of that before.” It’s easy to hear these things and fail to appreciate how incredible it is that we are not stuck in a cycle of temporary patchwork for the covering of our sins.

Let this sink in today: Jesus understands and Jesus did enough to heal, free, and save you so that you can walk right up to God and express your need for Him.

How hard is it for you to forgive the one who betrayed you? How hard is it for you to forgive the one who unexpectedly cut you so deeply? How hard is it for you to forgive the one who should have been there for you but went against you? How hard is it for you to forgive the one who you trusted but proved unworthy of trust? How hard is it for you to forgive yourself?

Jesus gets it.

Jesus forgave.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to remember that Jesus understands and cares. Perhaps today God wants you to reflect afresh on the incredible work that Jesus did. Maybe today God wants you to do the thing you thought impossible (overcome temptation or forgive) by following the Christ who has made a way. Perhaps today God wants you to boldly approach Him.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Stedman, R. C. (1992). Hebrews (Heb 4:14-16). IVP Academic.
Grindheim, S. (2023). The Letter to the Hebrews (D. A. Carson, Ed.; pp. 263–271). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
France, R. T. (2006). Hebrews. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation (Revised Edition) (Vol. 13, p. 72–73). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. (1998). Hebrews (p. 173–180). Zondervan Publishing House.

one step: Hebrews 4.3

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.

Like a hot flash, the blade sunk deep. Had I been stabbed, or had I been burned? Only by looking down did I see the handle of a blade, resting firmly in my stomach. But, where was the blade? The white-hot pain that creeped in around my vision told me that it was inside of me. How could this happen? To what end did this devastating blow reach my inmost being?

This made-up story mirrors the image that Hebrews 4:12 evokes. The violent blow that Scripture describes in this passage describes a blade used in hand-to-hand combat that was intended for stabbing.* It was more of a dagger than a sword.* And the tool implies less about the power of the blow and more about its ability to cut through human resistance.* Why would the author of Hebrews use this terminology?

God’s Word cuts through us in ways that we cannot achieve on our own. Who may separate soul from spirit? Who can do such a thing as divide joints and marrow? Who can know the thoughts and intentions of the inner-most parts of a person as they act? Only God.

This passage tells us that God can do what we cannot, but there is a reason for it: we as humans have the uncanny ability to deceive ourselves.* We can be religious and do the right things all while having ill-intentions and impure motives. Not only do we hide these inner-workings from others, but we hide them from ourselves as well. Dangerously, our pious actions lead us down a path of pride. Only the white-hot wounding of God’s Word can expose it. We need His Word to cut through our human resistance. The Word of God exposes us to ourselves and to others in way that brings humility, though the cutting can be painful.*

It’s not a comfortable thing to find out that there are ungodly things inside of us. It’s sometimes even more uncomfortable when someone else sees this in us as well. When someone sees the darkness inside of us at the same moment we see it inside of us, this is especially cutting. Nevertheless, it’s for our good and it matters. The cutting that the Word of God does is not for our destruction, but discernment and response.*

The Judge who cuts between all of our outer exterior and pretending awaits our response to His Words.* Will we accept them and be saved, or will we run from the cutting truth of His word to continue our charade? He desires that we endure the pain of allowing truth to penetrate us to the core so that we can choose life.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to allow His Word to cut deep. Perhaps today He wants you to open your ears to His Words. Maybe today He wants you to open your heart to the truth as delivered through a leader or a friend. Perhaps today God wants you to embrace the pain of His truth rather than run from it. Maybe today God wants you to allow humility to come.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Stedman, R. C. (1992). Hebrews (Heb 4:12–13). IVP Academic.
Grindheim, S. (2023). The Letter to the Hebrews (D. A. Carson, Ed.; pp. 256–261). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
France, R. T. (2006). Hebrews. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation (Revised Edition) (Vol. 13, p. 67–68). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. (1998). Hebrews (p. 155–157). Zondervan Publishing House.

one step: Hebrews 4.2

For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,

“As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest,’”

although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” And again in this passage he said,

“They shall not enter my rest.”

In this passage, the author of Hebrews further emphasizes the importance of belief as the means by which we are able to connect with God. The stakes are high as the rest that God offers and belief are connected. Understanding the rest that God offers can help us to understand the beauty of the gift of God to those who believe as well as the importance of that belief. The rest that the author of Hebrews refers to combined with our understanding of the rest that God participated in the story of creation (Genesis 2:2-3) provides a lot of understanding for us:

1. The rest that God promises is available to those that believe.

2. The word in Greek that the author uses for “rest” is eiserchometha. This is a present-tense verb, telling us that the rest that God promises isn’t just a future, eschatological experience; it’s an experience available today as well as in the age to come.*

3. The rest that God entered at the end of creation, unlike the other six days of creation, had no end. This indicates that the rest that God invites us into continues for eternity. It’s an eternity that includes our present day as well as our future promised rest.*

4. The rest that God entered at the end of creation involved reflection, enjoyment, and satisfaction, but not necessarily inactivity as God remains active in our lives today.*

5. In the creation story, God included created mankind into His rest though they had not yet participated in any work (indicating that the rest of God was not earned, but it was a gift of grace).*

6. In Hebrews, the reference to the rest of God as “my rest” indicates that it is a rest that comes from God, and it’s a rest that God participates in.*

What if I told you that if you believe in Christ, God has a rest for you that looks like the satisfaction of completed work? What if I told you that this rest feels as beautiful as the dream of rest that will one day come in eternity? What if I told you that this rest is where you meet with God? What if I told you that this rest is so important and pleasurable that God participates in it Himself? What if I told you that God offers that rest to you freely, though you cannot deserve it? What if I told you that this rest is available today?

God has Sabbath rest for you in this hectic, busy, tiring world in which we live.

Believe in the finished work of Christ for you today. You don’t need to earn rest; He has it for you. Sabbath well. Don’t miss it.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to take a Sabbath. Perhaps today God wants you to settle the rushing and racing in your soul. Maybe today God wants you to rest not just from work, but to rest with Him. Perhaps today God wants you to enjoy His completed work and allow that to overshadow your uncompleted work. Perhaps today God wants you to believe in the finished work of Christ.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Stedman, R. C. (1992). Hebrews (Heb 4:3–7). IVP Academic.
Grindheim, S. (2023). The Letter to the Hebrews (D. A. Carson, Ed.; pp. 239–242). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
France, R. T. (2006). Hebrews. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation (Revised Edition) (Vol. 13, p. 66). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. (1998). Hebrews (p. 151–153). Zondervan Publishing House.
John H. Sailhamer, Genesis, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Genesis – Leviticus Revised Edition, edited by Tremper Longman III and David E. Garland (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2008), 72.  
Karl Barth, Church Dogmatics: The Doctrine of Creation, Vol. 3, pt. 4. Edited by Geoffrey W. Bromiley and Thomas F. Torrance. Translated by Geoffrey W. Bromiley and Rudolf J. Ehrlich (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 2004), 52.

one step: Hebrews 4.1

Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.

It’s not often in the New Testament that we notice a writer telling us to fear. Often when we think of fear as related to God’s Word, we think of eliminating it from our consciousness. We think of fear as a plague that prevents us from living as God desires; we consider God’s Word as an invitation to flee from fear.

Though this is true on some level, the fear that we should oppose ourselves to is the fear of anything other than God. There is a fear that should live in every believer.

Here in Hebrews 4:1, we are told to fear God. This fear is not a fear of what He may do to us.* No, it’s a fear of eternal separation from God and depravation from Him.* How should we approach this? By fearing God Himself.*

The fear that Hebrews 4:1 invites us to isn’t a fear that shakes the confidence of faith; it is a fear that partners with faith.* Scholars define the fear of God as an emotional state or posture that reflects upon the mighty acts of God.*

I define fear of God as a heightened sense of awareness to the dynamic of relationship between one’s self and God, understanding HIs profoundly superior ability to impact one’s future in a real and powerful way.

Interestingly, when we think of fear (even fear of God), we naturally think of ourselves and what we may do to stay in a correct posture toward God. The author of Hebrews, however, invites us to have this fear in relationship to others.* Meaning, we should fear God for those in our community as much as for ourselves; we should partner with each other in helping us to keep right-focus on God.

The falling away from God that Hebrews 4:1 speaks of is not the result of an accident or the fruit of an imperfect follower of Christ (we are all imperfect). The falling away from God that we should concern ourselves with relates to rebellion.*

When we allow ourselves to fear God by way of concerning ourselves with helping those in our community of believers to maintain submission to Him in our lives, we find ourselves more and more free.* When we disregard our fear of God, live in rebellion, and encourage others to do the same, we will find more bondage.* This rebellion, if followed through, ends in eternal separation from and deprivation of God.*

Though fear of other things brings bondage and potential rebellion, fear of God sets us free.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to fear Him rightly: focusing on HIs good deeds and posturing ourselves in complete concern of Him. Perhaps today God wants you to repent of fearing other things. Maybe today God wants you to remind a friend to concern their lives with their relationship to God. Perhaps God wants you to remember that His promise or rest still stands.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Stedman, R. C. (1992). Hebrews (Heb 4:1–2). IVP Academic.
Grindheim, S. (2023). The Letter to the Hebrews (D. A. Carson, Ed.; pp. 235–239). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
France, R. T. (2006). Hebrews. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation (Revised Edition) (Vol. 13, p. 65–66). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. (1998). Hebrews (p. 149–151). Zondervan Publishing House.

one step: Hebrews 3.2

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.

This warning follows a quote of Psalm 95:7-11.* Psalm 95 is inspired by the lack of belief in God of the people of Israel in the face of adversity back in Numbers 12-14.* Rebellion and unbelief plagued the people of Israel as they stared at the Promised Land through eyes of the fear of the giant Canaanites.* This unbelief cost them admittance into the rest that God had prepared for them in the Promised Land.*

It’s no small thing to stand before God with unbelief. The writer of Hebrews basically warns his audience not to be like the Israelites that did not get to enter the Promised Land.* The rest that the audience of the writer of Hebrews risked missing was rest eternal, and not just a piece of land free of war and full of supplies.* This warning of eternal significance extends to us as well.

There will come a time when all people stand before God. Our belief in Him or not will determine if we enter His eternal rest or not. Perhaps you are reading this today and you think, “I am good. I believe in Jesus and have received Him as both Savior and Lord.” This is vital, and it is to what the writer of Hebrews refers.

But, there is a space between the rest that the Israelites missed and the rest in the future that awaits those who believe: Sabbath.

How is your rest in this life? Do you believe the promises of God that He will care for you, provide for you, and deliver on His promises? If not, you may be forfeiting the rest that He has for you each week and each day.

It’s no small thing.

Need help? Don’t we all? The writer of Hebrews says, “exhort one another every day.” The journey of belief is to be walked in community.* We need community because we all need strong encouragement, and, according to God’s Word, we need it every day.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to believe that He is who He says He is. Perhaps today you need to believe His promises even when there are giants standing before you. Maybe today God wants you to rest. Perhaps today He wants to speak to you about a sin in your life that birthed out of a lack of belief in Him. Maybe God wants you to re-engage in community to encourage and be encouraged.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Stedman, R. C. (1992). Hebrews (Heb 3:7–19). IVP Academic.
Grindheim, S. (2023). The Letter to the Hebrews (D. A. Carson, Ed.; pp. 223–228). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
France, R. T. (2006). Hebrews. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation (Revised Edition) (Vol. 13, p. 61–65). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. (1998). Hebrews (p. 129–130). Zondervan Publishing House.