I have been listening to a teacher of the Word who is new to me, Nerida Walker, and this verse is one that she referred to but one that I hadn’t really “heard” before, especially in the Amplified version that she quoted it in.

Hebrews 4:11Amplified Bible (AMP)

^“11 Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], that no one may fall or perish by the same kind of unbelief and disobedience [into which those in the wilderness fell].”

How clearly this verse links unbelief to falling/perishing.   How clearly are we admonished to “be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently” that this takes ongoing and persistent effort on our part?   How often in this present age do we delude ourselves into believing that God’s mercy is sufficient to cover up and make allowance for this pervasive unbelief and rejecting of His Word.  This verse spells out the cost.  How many are falling and perishing as a result?

As I look outside at my veggie beds and flower beds, the weeds have begun to grow, more aggressively, more abundantly than anything else that I have planted in  those beds at the moment.    We are called to be good soil, to receive the good seed.   It is perfect time to get out while the weeds are small and the pulling out is easy and to clean up the soil in preparation for a bountiful summer harvest..     Father, as we read your Word, that You would reveal to us every rootlets, sprout, seed, any place or part of our thinking or heart set that has embraced this destructive and pervasive unbelief.  In Jesus name.

Jesus has paid the price to redeem all, to restore all, to fix all, to heal all, to forgive all, to see complete victory over every area of darkness in our lives.   Let us root out every lie and evil thing that is keeping us from our full birthright in Christ and from living in the joy, peace, comfort. boundless affection, love and nurture of the Father/Healer/Provider/Lord of Lords.

Psalm 35:27 “Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore,“Great is the Lord, who delights in the welfare (shalom) of his servant!”