Insignificant Important Words

We can read the Bible so many times it is easy to miss very important words, words that seem so insignificant; so ordinary. On this morning I saw a word that I have read over and over; even pondered many times why it so often stood out to me, yet in my inability to recognize the reason for its importance, I have shrugged it off not giving it another thought. At least until I read it again; I would ponder and wonder, then wave it away. And then, TODAY the Holy Spirit spoke and was clear. Now I know why this seemingly insignificant common every day word has such meaning to mankind. And the funny thing, I had no idea how the passage I was reading was really a Christmas passage! The word: TODAY. The passage: Hebrews 3:7-4:2.

This is one of my favorite passages on rest that I often go to when I am in need of a reminder that rest is part of God’s plan for His people including me. I began reading this passage and again came across verse 7, “So, as the Holy Spirit says…” I stopped and realized the Holy Spirit is speaking, And then I thought, what is He saying, “…Today, if you hear His voice…” I kept thinking, “Yes, Lord. I have today and what You say is what I will do. Help me Lord not to be so distracted by the many voices and demands that are not of You!”

Moving along, thinking that the word “today” literally meant today (there I go again, waving it away), I read on and came to “…their hearts were always going astray and they have not known My ways…” I pondered that thought; truly the Israelite’s hearts were always going astray. Moses had a difficult congregation to lead, indeed. It takes good followers as well as good leaders to make a people most effective in God’s kingdom. And Moses was under a challenge! But then, these people only had the law to lead them, not the experience of the indwelling Spirit of God. They saw live miracles and wonders performed right before them, yet without the indwelling Spirit of God they only saw the Spirit’s external blessing, a shadow in the coming. Their rebellion resulted “in God’s anger, they did not enter God’s rest.” I began to focus on the word “rest.” “What is that exactly, Lord?” I asked.

I continued and there was that amazing word again, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts…” “Why is this word so stark to me, today?” It was if today the word "today" was not going to be passed along. I kept reading and came across “His rest still stands.” Aw, back to that word rest; this rest still stands, still exist, is still available. Now I know I am getting closer to what TODAY means and what REST is. I can feel it!

I read 4:3, “For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did, but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.” Good News stood out to me and the Holy Spirit recited in my mind, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you; You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” I quickly turned to Luke 2:11-12 and sure enough what I heard was there! And there was that so insignificant important word: TODAY. I realized at that moment that the word today refers to the Day our Lord became flesh, the day when Jesus the long awaited Savior was born, the day that OUR REST finally arrived! Now I am excited! No more shrugging of seemingly unimportant words, no way!

Not only does Today refer to our Savior's birth, it also refers to the good news Jesus' life brought to mankind. It refers to the day that Jesus became our REST; it refers to the day we no longer are a slave to sin; the day that freedom reigns in our souls; the day we can start our eternal life with the Father; Today refers to the day we no longer have to experience the external blessings of the Holy Spirit; today, my friends, we can have Him in us, we in Him! We can now succeed at obedience, because His power resides in our souls! What a GLORIOUS TODAY!

Before Jesus was born, mankind had experienced 400 years of silence from God. The world was in complete despair and darkness. Oppression marked the very lives of the Jews. It was their life! God’s last words to His people that we know of came through the prophet Malachi; they were filled with warning, judgment, yet, God also ended that prophecy with the hope of a new day called Today!

I closed my eyes in gratitude to God’s provision TODAY, then my mind saw the angels singing over the shepherds as they announced the birth of our Lord and my heart broke out singing:

One day when Heaven was filled with His praises
One day when sin was as black as could be
Jesus came forth to be born of a Virgin
Dwelt among men, my example is He

Word became flesh and the light shined among us
His glory revealed

Living He loved me, dying He saved me
And buried He carried my sins far away
Rising He justified freely forever
One day He's coming, oh, glorious day, oh, glorious day

One day they led Him up Calvary's mountain
One day they nailed Him to die on a tree
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He

Hands that healed nations, stretched out on a tree
And took the nails for me

'Cause living He loved me, dying He saved me
And buried He carried my sins far away
Rising He justified freely forever
One day He's coming, oh, glorious day, oh, glorious day

One day the grave could conceal Him no longer
One day the stone rolled away from the door
Then He arose, over death He had conquered
Now He's ascended, my Lord evermore

Death could not hold Him
The grave could not keep Him from rising again

Living He loved me, dying He saved me
And buried He carried my sins far away
Rising He justified freely forever
One day He's coming, oh, glorious day, oh, glorious day
Glorious day

One day the trumpet will sound for His coming
One day the skies with His glories will shine
Wonderful day, my beloved one bringing
My Savior Jesus is mine

Living He loved me, dying He saved me
And buried He carried my sins far away
Rising He justified freely forever
One day He's coming, oh, glorious day, oh, glorious day
Glorious day, oh, glorious day

Glorious Day by Casting Crowns