The Sabbath Rest (Genesis 2:1–3; Exodus 16:22–30)
1 UDB God has promised that we would rest, but we must be careful because we can miss God's place of rest. BSB BSB: Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it.
2 UDB We have heard the good news about how Jesus gives us God's rest, just as the people of Israel heard God promise that they would rest in Canaan. But just as that message did not help many of the people of Israel because they did not trust God as Joshua and Caleb did, the good news about Christ will not help us if we do not trust God. BSB BSB: For we also received the good news just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, since they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it.
3 UDB We who have believed in Christ are able to enter the place of rest because God said, "Because I was angry with the people of Israel, I solemnly declared, 'They will not enter the land where I would let them rest.'" God said this even though his plans had been finished from the time he created the world. BSB BSB: Now we who have believed enter that rest. As for the others, it is just as God has said: “So I swore on oath in My anger, ‘They shall never enter My rest.’” And yet His works have been finished since the foundation of the world.
4 UDB In fact, somewhere in the Scriptures God spoke about the seventh day using these words: "Then, on the seventh day, God rested from his work." BSB BSB: For somewhere He has spoken about the seventh day in this manner: “And on the seventh day God rested from all His works.”
5 UDB But note again what God said about the people of Israel in the passage that I quoted previously: "They will not enter the land where I would let them rest." BSB BSB: And again, as He says in the passage above: “They shall never enter My rest.”
6 UDB Some people still enter God's rest. But those who first heard God promise that they would rest—they did not enter that place of resting because they refused to believe God. BSB BSB: Since, then, it remains for some to enter His rest, and since those who formerly heard the good news did not enter because of their disobedience,
7 UDB But God set another time when we may enter that place of resting. That time is now! We know that is true because, much later than when the people of Israel rebelled against God in the desert, he caused King David to write what I have already quoted, "Right now, when you understand what God is saying to you, do not stubbornly disobey him." BSB BSB: God again designated a certain day as “Today,” when a long time later He spoke through David as was just stated: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”
8 UDB If Joshua had given them rest, then much later God would not have spoken again about another day of rest. But he did give them another promise of rest. BSB BSB: For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.
9 UDB So, just as God rested on the seventh day after he finished creating everything, there remains a time when God's people will rest eternally. BSB BSB: There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God.
10 UDB Whoever enters God's place of resting has ceased from his work, just as God finished doing his work of creating everything. BSB BSB: For whoever enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His.
11 UDB So we eagerly enter into the rest of God by following Christ, so that the example of those who disobey will not influence us and ruin us also. BSB BSB: Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.
The Living Word (2 Timothy 3:10–17)
12 UDB God's words are alive and powerful, and they are able to cut like a sharp sword—cutting so deep that it can separate out the difference between our soul and our spirit. God's words are just like a sword that cuts deeply, down so deep they can cut into us like a sharp sword cuts through the joints of an animal. Those words cut even into the hardest places in us, like a sword that can cut down into the marrow within the bones. God's words are like a judge, deciding what thoughts are good or what thoughts are bad, and his words test the motives hidden deep within each of our hearts. BSB BSB: For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
13 UDB God knows everything about everyone. Nothing is hidden from him. Everything is completely open to him, and he sees everything we do. We must all appear before God, and we must tell him how we have lived our lives. BSB BSB: Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
14 UDB So, we have a great high priest who ascended through the heavens when he returned to God's presence. He is Jesus, God's Son. So let us courageously say openly that we trust Jesus Christ. BSB BSB: Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess.
16 UDB So let us come boldly to Christ, who rules from heaven and does for us what we do not deserve, so that he might kindly help us and have mercy on us when we need him to do so. BSB BSB: 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.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.