They were a stubborn people. They had a long history of rejecting God’s direction and instead relying on their own intuition . . . for ignoring His way and instead leaning to the way of their own understanding. Even when they sought to be zealous concerning the King they did so by elevating themselves to the throne, confident in their own works and their own perceived righteousness. You would think that eventually God would say, “Enough!” But my God is the God of abounding patience . . . my God is the God who goes to extreme lengths to provide a way of redemption and restoration . . . my God is the God who gives second chances — and third, and fourth, and fifth, and . . . My God is the God who cries out, “Today!”

Since therefore it remains for some to enter [God’s rest], and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again He appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”   (Hebrews 4:6-7 ESV)

My God is the God of Today.

Strictly speaking, the context is the continued appeal to these Hebrew readers to recognize Jesus as the Christ . . . to know by faith that the reason He died was to provide the once-for-all atoning sacrifice for their sins . . . to believe that the reason His body was missing from the tomb was because He rose again from the grave, conquering sin and death, and had ascended to the right hand of the Father on high . . . to set their confidence in His work and His work alone . . . and thus, to enter into the promise of rest. And though they had repeatedly rejected the message . . . again, God appoints a certain day . . . Today . . . that they might enter that rest.

And I can’t help but think that for those who have owned Christ as Savior and Lord . . . for those who have already entered into that eternal promise of rest . . . but for those who sometimes struggle with entering into the day-by-day rest (aka me) . . . that God still continues to appoint another day . . . that though I may have “taken a rain check” on the promise yesterday, that today there remains a promise of rest.

Yesterday I was talking to a friend about something that I was worrying about. He said, “Pete, let me tell you about a Book . . . ” And this buddy reminded me of Jesus’ teaching concerning worry . . . and the Holy Spirit reminded of the Father’s offer of a peace which passes understanding . . . and though I may have missed out on some of that rest yesterday . . . He has appointed another day . . . Today . . . and offers anew His deep, abiding, calm from the storm.

Mine, then, is to not harden my heart. To not enter another day determined to carry the same burden in the same way. But to avail myself of the promise . . . to believe the calling . . . to hear again His voice . . .

“Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”   (Matthew 11:28-29 ESV)

O’ thank God that there remains a rest for the people of God (Heb. 4:9). Thank You, Father, that You have appointed another day to enter that rest.

Thanx for Today!