Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. Hebrews 3:1 NIV
The writer of Hebrews starts the third chapter with this word of advice: Fix your thoughts on Jesus! Discipline your mind to stay focused on Christ.
So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness,” Hebrews 3:7-8 NIV
God is always speaking! That’s why the writer uses the word, “Today.” He is always speaking, so we must always be listening. Remember the parable of the sower, the story Jesus told about the seed falling on four different kinds of soil. He likened our hearts to hard soil, rocky, thorny and good soul. So what kind of soil does your heart resemble right now, today?
See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. Hebrews 3:12 NIV
A hard, unbelieving and sinful heart is defined as one that turns away from the living God. Again, the writer chooses a word that reminds us that a God is not simply a historical figure, an archaic religious icon we study about and chose to believe existed. No, God is living, actively speaking today! Your spiritual experience must be one that is current and relevant right now.
So how do we keep our hearts from becoming hard?
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” Hebrews 3:13-15 NIV
It would seem that we need to both encourage and be encouraged every day to keep our hearts soft. We can’t coast on our spiritual engagements of yesterday, we must be intentional in the present, engaged and actively seeking God. Who are you encouraging and what are you doing today to encourage your own heart? Are you actively listening for His voice?
Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. Hebrews 4:1 NIV
Chapter four opens with a similar word of advice. Be careful that you don’t fall short! So why did the ancient believers fall short?
For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. Hebrews 4:2 NIV
They fell short because they failed to benefit from the message God spoke to them. The writer tells us they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. There seems to be a direct correlation with the value they received from hearing the word of God and their faith, as demonstrated by their obedience. Make no mistake, God’s word always has value but we only benefit from its value when we receive it in such a way that it results in obedience.
Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience. For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:11-12 NIV
God is faithful to speak to you today! His word is powerful! If you are spiritually exhausted, be encouraged; you can enter His rest! Fix your thoughts on Jesus. Listen to His voice and let His word change you until it results in your obedience. It really is that simple.