I will share about Christian books I have read or listened to.
I will be sharing about my life before and after Christ. I will include stories about my pet and other pets I have encountered.
Run Your Race
We all know it—life isn’t easy.
Challenges can arise that are so difficult, we can be tempted to give up or numb out. Whether it's an overwhelming circumstance, the demands of family life, or the pressures of work, it can sometimes feel like it's just too much.
When we find ourselves wanting to quit, the book of Hebrews gives us a powerful encouragement to hold onto:
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
Hebrews 12:1 NIV
“Witnesses” refer to believers who have gone before us, those whose lives are a testament of faithfulness to God. Their stories remind us that we're part of an even bigger narrative, a legacy of faith that spans generations.
This scripture also urges believers to "throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles." Hindrances may be easy to see, such as sinful distractions that hold us back from fully running after God. But they may also be internal, like fear and shame. Whatever form they may come in, we're called to throw them off.
And yet, we don't just throw off things that entangle us and sit down. The rest of the verse says, "Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." The call is to keep moving forward, no matter how tough the journey may seem. Guided by grace and fueled by faith, we can press on. We can run the race He's set before us.
Rest is a Reality
In Hebrews 4:9, the author offers a reassurance of hope: "There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God." The author is referring to more than just observing a specific day of the week. It's about a spiritual inward peace and wholeness with God, not depending on external circumstances.
Through faith and trust in God, we can find a deep and lasting rest for our souls, reminding us of the eternal rest to come. This Sabbath-rest serves as a precursor—a promise that concludes in a future, perfect rest (Revelation 14:13). The rest we get to experience here is only a shadow, and what we hope for is the reality (Colossians 2:17).
Sabbath-rest isn't earned. It’s a gift God offers to all who seek Him.
As you contemplate Hebrews 4:9, consider: What it would look like for you to fully enter God's rest in your daily life. How can you practice releasing your burdens and anxieties?
The promise of Sabbath-rest is not just a concept. It's a reality for those who walk ...
