SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 4
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. [Hebrews 4:2]
The writer of Hebrews is dealing with the problem of the Jews, why they did not accept God’s grace (both in the Old Testament and with the coming of Jesus).
The problem was their faith – or confidence – they did not put their confidence in Him, they trusted themselves.
They heard the message of grace – that we are unable to live God’s way but He will forgive and help us if we trust in Him – but they refused to trust in Him.
They pretended to be good enough, to be able to keep the Law (think of the Pharisees)… but God sees through our so-called good works to the thoughts and attitudes of the heart [Hebrews 4:12]

As long as we trust in our own abilities and efforts, we will never have rest, we will never find peace.
This is not a call to give up or despair, but to turn to the one Who can help us, Who will help us!
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. [John 14:1-3]
He knows our weakness, He knows our struggle, He is sympathetic and strong [Hebrews 4:15], He will help us get to where we cannot get ourselves – at peace and rest in our Father’s house.

You cannot fix yourself, you cannot make yourself a better person, you will not find peace on your own.
But this does not mean that we should give up!
No, we still make every effort to enter God’s peace and rest [Hebrews 4:11], but we do not do it by way of self-confidence or self-reliance… we do it by faith!
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. [Hebrews 4:16]
Every day, every moment, in every ounce of our being, we admit our inability and weakness.
We do not run away from the Lord out of fear of judgment, rather we run to Him for mercy and help.
We do our best knowing our limitations, but also knowing that He is greater than our weakness.
Our confidence is not in our skills or smarts or savvy, but in what He will do through our weak efforts.
If my success as a person, a pastor, a parent, a husband, a neighbour depended on me, I would be in trouble.
But thankfully my success does not depend on me.
As one wise person said to me, “God is able to make a straight hit with a crooked stick!”
More than that, He can even take my failures and produce something greater out of them.
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.

PRAYER:
Lord, thank You that You do understand, and You do care. I begin my day again trusting that You will do amazing things through my weak efforts, even through my failures. I trust You Lord, its my only hope!