July 31, 2018 LET US FEAR
Hebrews 4:1-2 “Therefore, let us fear lest, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it. 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.”
There are two important truths in this two verses that must be a reality in our own life if we are to be spiritually healthy. First, we need to realize that even though we may be believers, trusting God for our salvation, it is possible for us to live life on earth in a way that is not pleasing to the Lord. In light of this, we should have a healthy fear of not living according to God’s design and plan for us. It must be understood that we do not, and cannot live in a way that pleases Him by our own strength and will power. We please the Lord when we die to ourselves and live according to the Spirit of God who indwells every believer. Many spend their life trying to earn God’s approval by their own effort and determination, missing the glorious and fulfilling life that is available to those who know their true identity in Christ. Jesus has paid the full price for our redemption and has us made new creations and has joined us to Himself! What many are striving for, is already ours. So, the fear we should have is a fear of not living in the fullness that is ours in Christ. Again, it is possible to turn away from the Lord even in a very subtle way, and pursue our own way. Second, it is possible to substitute just reading the word with living the word. We may get a certain sense of satisfaction and a feeling that we did ‘our duty’ just from the fact that we read from God’s word. If we hear what God says through the reading of His word without the essential element of faith in what we hear, we do not profit from what we hear. Faith leads to action. As an example, if read Matthew 22:39 where we are told to love our neighbor as thyself, and we do not love our neighbor, then we do not profit from the word and are actually living contrary to the word. (The neighbor Jesus refers to may be more than the person in the house next door.) Once we come to know our true identity in the Lord, it becomes our joy to live out what we learn from God’s word because we know that His words and His ways are life. We should not view God’s word, the bible, as a book of rules that we must keep if we are to earn God’s approval. As we experience His life in us, we will have rest and we will find it our delight to do the things that please Him. Let us exercise faith by putting into action what we read from God’s word.
James 2:17-18 “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.”
Psalm 112:1 “Praise the Lord! How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments.”
Blessings,
Buddy
Hebrews 4:1-2 “Therefore, let us fear lest, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it. 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.”
There are two important truths in this two verses that must be a reality in our own life if we are to be spiritually healthy. First, we need to realize that even though we may be believers, trusting God for our salvation, it is possible for us to live life on earth in a way that is not pleasing to the Lord. In light of this, we should have a healthy fear of not living according to God’s design and plan for us. It must be understood that we do not, and cannot live in a way that pleases Him by our own strength and will power. We please the Lord when we die to ourselves and live according to the Spirit of God who indwells every believer. Many spend their life trying to earn God’s approval by their own effort and determination, missing the glorious and fulfilling life that is available to those who know their true identity in Christ. Jesus has paid the full price for our redemption and has us made new creations and has joined us to Himself! What many are striving for, is already ours. So, the fear we should have is a fear of not living in the fullness that is ours in Christ. Again, it is possible to turn away from the Lord even in a very subtle way, and pursue our own way. Second, it is possible to substitute just reading the word with living the word. We may get a certain sense of satisfaction and a feeling that we did ‘our duty’ just from the fact that we read from God’s word. If we hear what God says through the reading of His word without the essential element of faith in what we hear, we do not profit from what we hear. Faith leads to action. As an example, if read Matthew 22:39 where we are told to love our neighbor as thyself, and we do not love our neighbor, then we do not profit from the word and are actually living contrary to the word. (The neighbor Jesus refers to may be more than the person in the house next door.) Once we come to know our true identity in the Lord, it becomes our joy to live out what we learn from God’s word because we know that His words and His ways are life. We should not view God’s word, the bible, as a book of rules that we must keep if we are to earn God’s approval. As we experience His life in us, we will have rest and we will find it our delight to do the things that please Him. Let us exercise faith by putting into action what we read from God’s word.
James 2:17-18 “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.”
Psalm 112:1 “Praise the Lord! How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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