Daily Devotional
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Robbed of the Rest
Pastor Scott
Tuesday, July 06, 2004
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"So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief."
(Hebrews 3:19)
Where is the rest of God? Where is the assurance that our steps are ordered? We can talk about healing or contentment, but basically it all comes down to one simple thing: "So we see that they could not enter in [to the rest] because of [their] unbelief" (Heb. 3:19). Unbelief is the inability to trust God that His ways are better than ours. We are not to lean to our own understanding but to truly acknowledge Him directing our path, that all things are surely working together for good to those that love God and are called according to His purposes (Rom. 8:28).
Where are we in our walk in the spirit? Faith is trust, reliance, assurance. Without trust, reliance and assurance it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6). Are we relying upon God? Do we have assurance that His promises are sure and do we make our decisions based upon that assurance? Whether we like to admit it or not, most of us have more trust, reliance and assurance in the promises of our employers, insurance companies, credit cards and banks. Tragically we have deluded ourselves into thinking, "No, my trust is really in the Lord." Then why do we keep going to the institutions of the kingdom of darkness to make life bearable for us? Because we can't live without this, we go borrow to provide because God doesn't. We run to take the pill to provide because God doesn't. Yet we say, "My trust and my hope is in God."
Whether we mean to or not, we put God in our instant-fix time table. We say, "God, I am really believing You to heal and provide, but if it's not done in the next fifteen minutes, I have to get rid of this headache because I've got stuff to take care of. I have to really impress them and don't have any money, so I'm depending on this deal to pay for my new suit I just put on credit for the glory of God." Do you know what I see in the Scriptures? I see a simpler life. The prophet said in the last days men would be running to and fro (Dan. 12:4). It is contrary to being still and knowing that He is God. Have we been robbed of the rest through all of the anxiousness and instant gratification that seems to be the way of life for everyone around us? Are we externally stimulated instead of internally motivated by the promises of God?
If you look with natural eyes, you will see giants and walled cities that cannot be impregnated. You will see vast arid areas where there is no possible way to be refreshed. You will never drink water from the rock, take the five smooth stones into your hand, or walk in silent assurance that when you shout the walls will come down if you have an evil heart of unbelief. We keep looking back to Egypt and forget the strong hand that has brought us out.
Why would you doubt God for anything when He has transformed your life and made you a new creation? He did what no other power could do--He took a heart of stone and made it a heart of flesh. This miracle isn't over; it's just beginning. So why would you look back to Egypt when ahead is a land that flows with milk and honey, and all you have to do is enter in? All you have to do is begin to hang around with the group of Joshua's and Caleb's. Everyone else around you says it can't be done, but there's a group that says, "We're well able. Let us go up at once and take it, praise God." Who are you hanging with? What are you going to believe?