STRIKE LORD!
MERRY TUESDAY BY PARRIS BAILEY-
“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. 2For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” HEB.4:1
There is nothing worse than someone that is full of negativity. We all have been guilty of course of imagining “the worse case scenario”. Paul in the book of Hebrews calls it the EVIL HEART OF UNBELIEF which “defiles the conscience, hardens the heart, renders the word unprofitable, unfit for duty and makes men unstable.” (Gill) Many disciples live a life of depression, wretchedness, and discomfort, which would be completely changed if they had faith in God, and lived a higher life of devotedness and love.
Many of us need to grab hold of the promises of God and cross over into the promised land. Let’s read what the Preachers Homiletic says about this: “Canaan may be fairly considered as a type of that better state of Christianity which some enjoy. It is not altogether free from ills; the Canaanite dwells in the land, and there are wars and fightings still; but there is rest, and there is the spirit of service developing itself in the cultivation of the promised land. The Lord shall bruise Satan under our feet shortly. We may be slaves in Egypt for awhile, but we shall come up out of it with great abundance of true riches, better than silver or gold. We shall be prospered by our tribulations, and enriched by our trials. Therefore, let us be of good cheer. If sin be pardoned, we may well bear affliction. “Strike, Lord,” said Luther, “now my sins are gone; strike as hard as thou wilt if transgression be covered.” These light afflictions which are but for a moment, are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Have we ourselves entered into the rest of God? Once again lets listen to this commentator; “The rest of God is difficult to understand. It belongs necessarily to the divine nature. It is the deep tranquility of a nature self-sufficing in its infinite beauty, calm in its everlasting strength, placid in its deepest joy, still in its mightiest energy, loving without passion, willing without decision or change, acting without effort, quiet and moving everything; making all things new, and itself everlasting; creating and knowing no diminution by the act; annihilating and knowing no loss though the universe were barren and unpeopled. God does not rest as weary, but as having done what He meant to to do. The rest of God is the expression of the perfect Divine complacency in the perfect Divine work. Christ’s work of redemption, finished upon the cross, is perpetually going on. Christ’s glorious repose is full of energy for His people. He intercedes above.”
I want all He has for me don’t you?