Jesus is our Sabbath rest.
Are you at rest in Jesus? It is an important question and consideration.
The writer of Hebrews covers Israel being delivered from Egypt (picture of bondage to the World and its systems) early at the end of Chapter 3 speaking of our need to encourage one another every day with the truth of our deliverance in Jesus:
[Hebrews 3:13-14 NASB95] 13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is [still] called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end,
And using Israel as an example of people of God that did not enter His rest because of unbelief:
[Hebrew 3:18-19 NASB95] 18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 [So] we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.
I share this not out of desire to use some fear tactic to scare into action and piety, but simply to remind us of our need of daily encouragement, and the need of focusing on the truth of the rest/sabbath that is ours in Him/Jesus. The writer continues in Hebrews 4 to remind us of that Sabbath which is His, and which we are invited to live in:
[Hebrews 4:1-11 NASB95] 1 Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, just 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. 4 For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh [day:] “AND GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORKS”; 5 and again in this [passage,] “THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.” 6 Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 He again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, “TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS.” 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. 9 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through [following] the same example of disobedience.
If you look at the underlined portions here it is readily apparent that there is a rest, a Sabbath that is HIS. Also apparent is that (vs3) we who believed enter that rest. “HIS works were finished from the foundation of the world” and He has “rested from all His works.” And, (vs 10) assures us that we may enter His rest. And, if we have, we rest from our works, “just as God did from His.” We are then admonished by the ultimate oxymoron “be diligent to enter that rest”
Keep in mind our spiritual adversary is a liar, the Father of lies, and daily tries to lead us into unbelief and disobedience through the lie, and will try to rob us of that Sabbath/rest.
So, also discussed here (vs1) the “fear”, although not being used as a fear motivation, that while that rest is a reality we may come short of it? How could that happen? If, as indicated (vs2), indeed we have had good news preached to us, How?
It happens when the word we have heard is not believed/received and does not becomes, or united with, faith. As I have shared many times faith is not initiated in or by us, it is not something we well up or work up by strong mental assent or “hard’ believing. It is initiated by God speaking to us. (Romans 10:17a … faith comes by hearing). When He speaks there is faith, if He hasn’t there isn’t any. But, faith has two parts. There is the speaking (initiation) by God, and the doing (response of obedience to what He has spoken) by us. The kingdom principle from the scriptures is the outworking of hearing is faith, the outworking of faith is obedience, the outworking of obedience is seeing the fulfillment or what He has promised or spoken to you about.
This is once again evidenced here. The writer says regarding Israel they also had good news given, preached to, them just like us,“but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.” They heard, but the outworking was not faith in this case, because “it was not united” with faith: received/believed/walked out/obeyed. As a result they failed to enter His rest. Vs 6 indicates “those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience”. And, the writer’s admonition to those still outside of His rest is “TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS.” .
And, his encouragement is that (vs 9) “there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God “ and we should be diligent to enter by letting hearing His voice have its outworking in faith that produces obedience, rather than the unbelief that produces “the same example of disobedience.”
Please understand this, from the writer of Hebrews, nor from me, is not an exhortation to works, or works righteousness True faith does not lead us to performance of works we dream up, or a response to rule and regulation/law, to try to appease or please Him of our own initiative. The exhortation is to simply walk with Him, hearing His voice, and doing what He directs as you do. It is in walking with Him, listening to His voice we find that rest/Sabbath and enter in.
Jesus spoke a very similar oxymoron in Matthew 11:
[Matthew 11:28-30 NASB95] 28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
As I have shared before, this is a great paradox as a yoke is an implement of labor. You yoke oxen together to pull the load and for labor. When we are yoked to Jesus, we simply walk beside Him co-laboring with Him. He pulls the bulk of the load, and we do not grow weary. We, rather, find rest/Sabbath in Him. His yoke is easy, His burden is light.
Stop trying to be diligent to work from your own initiative or plans to do something for Him or to please Him. It will wear you out! Think about it! He is Almighty God, Omnipotent, He is all sufficient within Himself. He does not need anything! He does not need anyone to do anything for Him. However, He desires us to walk with Him doing what He is doing. As Jesus put it:
[John 5:19 NASB95] 19 ….”Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless [it is] something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.
Performance will lead you to disobedience doing what you think He wants, rather than serving from knowing what He wants and is doing in the moment or situation. Be diligent to enter His rest by simply listening to His voice. Listening will lead to obedience in doing what He directs as He leads. Laboring for Him of your own design will be ineffective, frustrating, and tiring. Co-laboring with Him, walking beside Him, yoked to Him, will be extremely effective, and bring rest and peace. Be diligent to enter that rest!