Hebrews 3 (7)

Introduction
Immature, unimproved faith in Jesus Christ can be a slippery slope. So slippery, in fact, that it may prove to have been a false footing all along. The slightest challenge to our faith, or the merest suggestion of opposition or disapproval of our faith on the part of someone in our life sphere, and, if our faith is not maturing, we can begin to slip away from the Lord, drift into rebellion, and end up forfeiting our rest. The writer of Hebrews strongly warns us to beware of this becoming the case.

Read Psalm 95.

Read and Meditate on Hebrews 3.

Think it through.
1.  Chapter 3 begins with the writer talking about those who were “partakers of the heavenly calling,” and it ends reminding readers of those “whose corpses fell in the wilderness.” One of these knew rest, while the other preferred rebellion. But both of these groups identified themselves as God’s people. Were both right? Both of these groups had heard the Word of God (v. 16; cf. Heb. 2.1). Is merely hearingthe Word of God sufficient for knowing the rest we have in Jesus? Explain. What is the rest we have in Jesus? 

2.  Having warned of the very real danger of drifting from Christ in chapter 2, in chapter 3 the writer insists that we must resist every such tendency. How (vv. 6, 7, 8, 12, 13)? How would you counsel a new believer to be alert to the tendency to drift from Christ, and to resist that temptation whenever it arises? What role should the Scriptures play in this? Why is it important to consider Jesus in resisting the temptation to drift?

Meditate.
“From hardness comes unbelief. As in bodies the parts that have become callous and hard do not yield to the hands of the physicians, so also souls that are hardened yield not to the Word of God. For it is probable that some even disbelieved those things which had already been done; hence he says, ‘Take heed’” John Chrysostom (344-407 AD)

This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ… Ephesians 4.17-20

Help me to learn Jesus, Father, so that my heart will not be hardened against Your will, but instead …

Pray Psalm 95.
Ask the Lord to show you how to keep from lapsing into a hardened heart of unbelief, and how to help those who have.

Psalm 95.1-11 (Tidings: O Zion Haste, Thy Mission High Fulfilling)
Come, let us sing with joy to God, our Savior!
Let us with joy to Him, our Rock, bow down!
Come now before Him, grateful for His favor;
Let joyful psalms break forth from all around.
Refrain v. 6
Come let us worship, kneel to our Lord;
Worship our Maker: Father, Holy Spirit, Word.

Great are You, Lord, a King above all nations.
All of earth’s depths lie hidden in Your hand.
Yours are the mountains, Yours the sea, You made it;
You by Your hands created the dry land.
Refrain

You are our God, we are Your sheep, Your people:
Speak, Lord, and let us hearken to Your Word.
Let not our hearts grow hard through sin, and feeble,
As when our fathers sinned against You, Lord.
Refrain

Long years You loathed that wicked generation,
Who in their hearts, rebelled against Your path.
Them You forsook, and kept from Your salvation;
Them You subjected to Your fearsome wrath.
Refrain

T. M Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press).