“Your strength comes from God’s grace, not from rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them.” Hebrews 13:9
Rule followers rely on performance, they are competitive and proud. They can be so obsess with what makes them look “right” that they often miss when they are wrong. In contrast to the diet rules of judaism, Paul knew that God was interested in obedience that came from a pure heart.
Therefore, he was letting the hebrews know that following these rules would not aid their efforts in service or in making up for themselves. God was interested in the sacrifices of the heart and, rather than following rules, grace is needed for that.
God wants us to serve him by having the humble heart that lives to please him. If you hardly ever need forgiveness, change or repentance—I would worry. A heart that is pleasing to God is always searching for change an self-improvement.
There’s a reason why salvation comes for grace—God knows that we need it. I need to remember it’s there for me. Grace covers you failures, your failed attempts, your mistakes and gives you the strength to keep on walking the path of faith. Where would I be without grace?
If you find yourself in need of grace, your heart is on the right track toward progress. During the gray moments of your setbacks, take a deep breath of God’s grace as you remember how he provided it for you.
Paul let the Hebrews know: “We have an altar from which the priest in the Tabernacle have no right to eat.” Hebrews 13:10
God provided grace in the perfect Altar: The cross
There he laid the ultimate sacrifice: His son
The grace of God is the result of this sacrifice in God’s plan of restoration. It is through grace that we can learn from our mistakes while moving forward in the path of faith with strength.
“Now may the God of peace—who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood—may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him.” Hebrews 13:20-21
