Hebrews 3:7-12
7. “That is why the Holy Spirit says, today when you hear his voice, 8. don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled, when they tested me in the wilderness. 9. There your ancestors tested and tried my patience, even though they saw my miracles for forty years. 10. So I was angry with them, and I said, ‘Their hearts always turn away from me. They refuse to do what I tell them.’ 11. So in my anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter my place of rest.'” 12. Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God.”
Good morning and Happy Blessed Friday WBFWE Family! Today we will be tying up Hebrews 3: 11-12. I appreciate you sticking with me as we’ve discussed verses 7-10 already. I pray that what I’ve been blessed to write and what you have read so far has blessed you, encouraged you, and helped you with your faith walk and relationship with The Father. I appreciate you stopping by today. Have an awesome Friday and a safe and blessed weekend!
Hebrews 3:11-12
11. So in my anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter my place of rest.'” 12. Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God.”
We’ve discussed that it doesn’t pay to harden our hearts and not listen to The Father. We’ve discussed that we shouldn’t forget all that He has done for us and that we should not test or try The Almighty’s patience as the Israelites did. Yahweh is not Santa Clause or some fairy tale that ends in a happy ending despite what we do and say. There are repercussions and consequences to our words and actions.
Our Creator is loving, kind, faithful, patient, long suffering, forgiving, etc. But the one thing we should not do is take all His amazing attributes for granted or not appreciate them. And take for granted and not appreciate Their God is what the Israelites did. They forgot Their God’s greatness it seems from blessing to blessing, to where He was constantly reminding them showing them who He was. Despite His blessings and miracles His people continued to complain, not listen, be selfish, rebel, and even want to go back to their past instead of embracing their future/promise. And when enough was enough Their God spoke/took an oath and said, “They will never enter my place of rest.”
The Promise Land that was promised to the Israelites… that blessing that had their name on it… was lost… gone… not to be received, because of their disobedience, their harden hearts, not listening, and their rebellious ways. Their actions and words finally had dug a hole for them that they could not get out of. Instead of receiving their blessing they received the consequences for their behavior… words… actions.
Our Heavenly Father through Christ Jesus is in the blessing business. And all His Blessings and Promises are not handed out freely like halloween candy. There are prerequisites in order to get all He wants to give to you… me… us. Having the right relationship, not having a harden heart, actively listening, and not testing and trying His patience are prerequisites! If we think opportunities can’t be missed and blessings can’t be lost… let’s not make Him show us like He showed The Israelites!!!
WBFWE
Song: Count Your Blessings By Deitrick Haddon
WalkByFaithWithExpectations / Darrick Kibble 