Mixing Faith With Hearing

Exodus 32-33:23

Today the following passage became real and alive to me:

Hebrews 4:1-3 NIV  Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.  (2)  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.  (3)  Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, "So I declared on oath in my anger, "They shall never enter my rest.'" And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world.

Although a little off-center of cloaks and favor, with today’s Old Testament passage, I better understand the passage about missing God’s rest if faith is not combined with God’s Word. In the desert, Israel heard and saw the works of God, yet, when they didn’t get their quick fix, their spiritual fast food, they quickly took off the accessories that went with their “cloaks” of favor and turned them into an idol, a golden calf.   The making of idols is an effect of a cause, unbelief.

Mark Twain said, “Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society,” which is truly stated but is not true.  Clothes cover up and give the appearance of what the man is trying to convey to society; however, God sees the heart. It is possible, having some familiarity and experience with human nature, which is man’s behavior outside the influence of the Holy Spirit, the clothes given to Israel by the Egyptians right before the Exodus, caused the wearers to believe their outside appearance in their newly acquired finery, made them who they were, gave them their favor with God, and so acted accordingly.  Maybe they coveted after the garments that were being made for Aaron and his sons and wanted to compete with God, Hmmm.

What do I need to do to make sure I mix what I’ve heard, what I’ve read, what I’m Blogging about now with faith and fail to enter my rest?

In the reading of a New Testament passage, once more something I’ve read over and over again, was seen in a different light:

Matthew 26:69-75 NIV  Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. "You also were with Jesus of Galilee," she said.  (70)  But he denied it before them all. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said.  (71)  Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him and said to the people there, "This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth."  (72)  He denied it again, with an oath: "I don't know the man!"  (73)  After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, "Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away."  (74)  Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, "I don't know the man!" Immediately a rooster crowed.  (75)  Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: "Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Once you’ve been with Jesus, whether you deny Him or not, whether you open your mouth or not, whether you call down curses of denial or not, whether you sit or stand, people know you have been with Jesus.