Daily Worship (Feb 15)
Devotional 1: Today, Do Not Harden Your Heart
Psalm 95:7–11, (NIV)
“for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if only you would hear his voice, “Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested me; they tried me, though they had seen what I did. For forty years I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my ways.’ So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ”
Devotional Thought
Psalm 95 is the warning passage quoted again and again in Hebrews 3–4. The writer of Hebrews reminds us that this ancient psalm is not just about Israel in the wilderness. It is about us. The key word in Psalm 95 is “Today.” God speaks in the present tense. His voice is not locked in the past. When we hear his word, we are responsible to respond.
In the wilderness, Israel had seen God’s power. He rescued them from Egypt. He fed them. He led them. Yet when fear came—when they saw giants in the land—they hardened their hearts. Their problem was not lack of evidence. It was unbelief. They did not trust God in the heat of their circumstances.
We can do the same thing. We hear the gospel. We sing about grace. We know the cross and the empty tomb. But when life gets hard—when fear rises, when control slips, when comfort fades—we look for rest somewhere else. We go back to old habits, self-reliance, or performance. We harden slowly.
Psalm 95 reminds us that unbelief is dangerous. It keeps us from rest. But the good news is this: “Today” still stands. God is still speaking. Rest is still offered. The call is not to try harder but to trust deeper. Do not delay. Do not drift. Today, rest in Christ.
COMMA Questions
Prayer
Lord, forgive me for hardening my heart when life feels uncertain. Help me hear your voice today. Teach me to trust you instead of fear. Keep me from drifting, and lead me into your true rest through Jesus. Amen.
“for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if only you would hear his voice, “Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested me; they tried me, though they had seen what I did. For forty years I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my ways.’ So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ”
Devotional Thought
Psalm 95 is the warning passage quoted again and again in Hebrews 3–4. The writer of Hebrews reminds us that this ancient psalm is not just about Israel in the wilderness. It is about us. The key word in Psalm 95 is “Today.” God speaks in the present tense. His voice is not locked in the past. When we hear his word, we are responsible to respond.
In the wilderness, Israel had seen God’s power. He rescued them from Egypt. He fed them. He led them. Yet when fear came—when they saw giants in the land—they hardened their hearts. Their problem was not lack of evidence. It was unbelief. They did not trust God in the heat of their circumstances.
We can do the same thing. We hear the gospel. We sing about grace. We know the cross and the empty tomb. But when life gets hard—when fear rises, when control slips, when comfort fades—we look for rest somewhere else. We go back to old habits, self-reliance, or performance. We harden slowly.
Psalm 95 reminds us that unbelief is dangerous. It keeps us from rest. But the good news is this: “Today” still stands. God is still speaking. Rest is still offered. The call is not to try harder but to trust deeper. Do not delay. Do not drift. Today, rest in Christ.
COMMA Questions
- Context - How does Psalm 95 fit within the worship and history of Israel, and how does Hebrews 3–4 use this psalm to speak to believers today?
- Observation - What repeated word in Psalm 95 shows urgency? What warning is given about the heart?
- Meaning - What does it mean to “harden” your heart? How is hardening connected to unbelief?
- Main Idea - Why does God call his people to respond to his voice “today” instead of waiting?
- Application - Where in your life are you tempted to delay obedience or trust something other than Christ for security?
Prayer
Lord, forgive me for hardening my heart when life feels uncertain. Help me hear your voice today. Teach me to trust you instead of fear. Keep me from drifting, and lead me into your true rest through Jesus. Amen.
Devotional 2: Rest for the Weary
Matthew 11:28–30, (NIV)
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Devotional Thought
In Matthew 11, Jesus speaks to people who are tired. They are not just physically tired. They are burdened by religion, rules, guilt, and fear. Into that weariness, Jesus says, “Come to me.” He does not say, “Fix yourself first.” He does not say, “Work harder.” He invites them to rest.
This connects directly to Hebrews 4. The writer tells us that a true and lasting rest still remains for the people of God. That rest is not found in the Promised Land. It is not found in success, family peace, or cultural stability. It is found in a person—Jesus himself.
Many of us try to find rest in control. We want to manage our future. We want to secure our identity through achievement. But that only makes us more tired. We carry burdens that were never meant to be ours.
Jesus says his yoke is easy and his burden is light. That does not mean life has no struggles. It means we no longer carry the weight of saving ourselves. We rest by trusting him. Faith is sitting down in the finished work of Christ. It is laying down the need to prove ourselves.
If you are restless, come. If you are fearful, come. If you are exhausted from trying to hold everything together, come. True rest is not escape from hardship. It is confidence in the One who carries you through it.
COMMA Questions
Prayer
Jesus, I am often tired from trying to control my life. Help me come to you with trust. Teach me to rest in your finished work. Give me freedom from fear and self-reliance, and let me find true peace in you. Amen.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Devotional Thought
In Matthew 11, Jesus speaks to people who are tired. They are not just physically tired. They are burdened by religion, rules, guilt, and fear. Into that weariness, Jesus says, “Come to me.” He does not say, “Fix yourself first.” He does not say, “Work harder.” He invites them to rest.
This connects directly to Hebrews 4. The writer tells us that a true and lasting rest still remains for the people of God. That rest is not found in the Promised Land. It is not found in success, family peace, or cultural stability. It is found in a person—Jesus himself.
Many of us try to find rest in control. We want to manage our future. We want to secure our identity through achievement. But that only makes us more tired. We carry burdens that were never meant to be ours.
Jesus says his yoke is easy and his burden is light. That does not mean life has no struggles. It means we no longer carry the weight of saving ourselves. We rest by trusting him. Faith is sitting down in the finished work of Christ. It is laying down the need to prove ourselves.
If you are restless, come. If you are fearful, come. If you are exhausted from trying to hold everything together, come. True rest is not escape from hardship. It is confidence in the One who carries you through it.
COMMA Questions
- Context - How does Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 11 come after his teaching about unbelief and rejection earlier in the chapter?
- Observation - What two words describe the condition of the people Jesus calls? What promise does he give them?
- Meaning - What does it mean to take Jesus’ yoke? How is his burden different from the burdens of self-justification?
- Main Idea - Why is coming to Jesus the only way to experience true rest?
- Application - What burdens are you carrying that you need to bring to Christ instead of trying to handle alone?
Prayer
Jesus, I am often tired from trying to control my life. Help me come to you with trust. Teach me to rest in your finished work. Give me freedom from fear and self-reliance, and let me find true peace in you. Amen.
Devotional 3: Come Boldly to the Throne of Grace
Hebrews 4:14–16, (NIV)
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Devotional Thought
After warning us about unbelief and reminding us that God’s word exposes our hearts, Hebrews 4 ends with hope. We are told that we have a great high priest—Jesus, the Son of God. He has passed through the heavens. He stands in God’s presence for us.
This is powerful. When the word of God reveals our weakness, we might feel ashamed or afraid. We might think we need to hide. But the gospel tells us something better. We do not have a priest who is distant. We have one who understands. He was tempted in every way, yet without sin.
That means your fear is not foreign to him. Your struggle is not surprising to him. Your temptation to drift is not new to him. And still, he invites you to come.
The throne of God could be terrifying. But for those who belong to Christ, it is called a throne of grace. We do not approach it to earn acceptance. We approach it to receive mercy. This is true rest. We stop striving. We stop pretending. We come honestly.
In a world full of anxiety and pressure, this is our hope. We fix our thoughts on Jesus. We hold firmly to faith, not because we are strong, but because he is faithful. We rest because our priest has already done the work.
COMMA Questions
Prayer
Father, thank you for giving us a great high priest in Jesus. When I feel weak or ashamed, help me draw near instead of pulling away. Teach me to rest in your mercy and grace. Keep me trusting, and lead me into deeper confidence in Christ. Amen.
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Devotional Thought
After warning us about unbelief and reminding us that God’s word exposes our hearts, Hebrews 4 ends with hope. We are told that we have a great high priest—Jesus, the Son of God. He has passed through the heavens. He stands in God’s presence for us.
This is powerful. When the word of God reveals our weakness, we might feel ashamed or afraid. We might think we need to hide. But the gospel tells us something better. We do not have a priest who is distant. We have one who understands. He was tempted in every way, yet without sin.
That means your fear is not foreign to him. Your struggle is not surprising to him. Your temptation to drift is not new to him. And still, he invites you to come.
The throne of God could be terrifying. But for those who belong to Christ, it is called a throne of grace. We do not approach it to earn acceptance. We approach it to receive mercy. This is true rest. We stop striving. We stop pretending. We come honestly.
In a world full of anxiety and pressure, this is our hope. We fix our thoughts on Jesus. We hold firmly to faith, not because we are strong, but because he is faithful. We rest because our priest has already done the work.
COMMA Questions
- Context - How does Hebrews 4:14–16 follow the warning about the word of God exposing our hearts in verses 12–13?
- Observation - What titles are given to Jesus in this passage? What are believers told to do?
- Meaning - What does it mean that Jesus sympathizes with our weaknesses? What does “throne of grace” show about God’s character?
- Main Idea - Why can believers approach God with confidence instead of fear?
- Application - When you feel weak or exposed, how can you practice coming boldly to God in prayer instead of hiding?
Prayer
Father, thank you for giving us a great high priest in Jesus. When I feel weak or ashamed, help me draw near instead of pulling away. Teach me to rest in your mercy and grace. Keep me trusting, and lead me into deeper confidence in Christ. Amen.
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