United by faith

Hebrews 4:2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. The author continued his comparison of the Israelites who came out of Egypt with his readers. Both had good news preached to them of a promised rest from their difficult sojourning. The Israelites failed to enter the Promised Land because of unbelief. They heard, but God’s words were not united with faith in their hearts. Instead, their hearts were hardened by unbelief as they looked at their circumstances instead of God’s faithfulness. We, like the Hebrew recipients of this letter, have heard the good news of the gospel revealed in Jesus Christ. The good news is that Jesus is God’s Son and our high priest who has purified our sins and has sat down at the right hand of the Father where He intercedes for us and runs all things by the power of His word. He has promised to preserve us by His grace and mercy and bring us to glory—to a world to come—where righteousness reigns and God’s love is our light. This good news is of no benefit to us unless we believe it. Today, you and I will have many opportunities to love and trust God with Jesus. We look to Him for grace and love, just like Paul encouraged in his letters. He wrote Timothy in 1 Tim. 1:14 about God’s choosing and saving him. He wrote that “the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.” In his second letter to Timothy he admonished him, “Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.” Where does the faith come from when we hear the “sound words”? Both faith and love are found in Christ Jesus. It is His faith and love at work in our hearts when we hear God’s good news. That’s why all the glory goes to God through His Son, Jesus Christ. We believe and love in and with Jesus! So when we hear the good news that God has given us His Son so we might have His life and love as we have been commanded, we hear it and believe God will be faithful and give us what we need to walk in love. As you listen to my voice and these words of encouragement, expect God to keep His word and give you all that you need today to walk faithfully until the day you enter into the fullness of His kingdom. May God’s good news be united with faith in your hearts.