No More Training Wheels
The overarching theme of the book of Hebrews teaches us that Christ is superior to all. He is supreme in nature and authority. In the current season of my life, one of my daughter's, Logyn, is learning to ride a bike without her trusted training wheels. She’s also learning how riding a bike without training wheels takes practice and repetition; therefore, she has often reverted to the old bike with training wheels in the shed. It gives her safety, comfort, and a quick remedy since she was playing catch-up with her sister.
After numerous episodes of falling and crying, on top of discouragement and frustration, she finally began to catch on. Somewhere between the frustration of learning to ride without training wheels and briefly balancing a new bike by herself, the joy of accomplishment and perseverance had become a reality, and you could see it on her face. Logyn could finally ride along with her older sister and her friends throughout the neighborhood without falling behind and without pushing her bike with training wheels to its maximum limit.
As I thought through this, I saw that it illustrates the current situation of the Jewish converts to whom the author of the book of Hebrews is writing. He’s writing to encourage the Jewish believers to not turn from faith in Jesus the Messiah and revert back to the Mosaic laws, rites, and rituals. The Jewish converts received intense persecution and pressure from unbelieving Jews, so much so that some began to walk away from the faith entirely. The author of Hebrews implores the Hebrew believers to hold fast to their professed faith and remember that Jesus is supreme and His promises are secure. We have victory only in Him. Eternal life and atonement is found in His work on the cross alone. What the bicycles with training wheels of old couldn't give us, we now have in a greater way in the new bike without training wheels.
The old covenant stands as a shadow and symbol of the greater reality that we live in today, found in a better covenant established on better promises. Hebrews chapter 4 tells us we no longer need to labor, for those in Christ have rested from their labors. Labor here speaks to works as a basis for our own righteousness. Because of Christ, our righteousness is established on His work and not our labor. We should be intentional about reminding ourselves that Jesus is better and His work is sufficient. We face daily temptation to return to old ideas, systems, and self-dependent ways as a form of self righteousness. But Jesus desires that we place our trust in Him because what He did is better than anything we could do, and what He accomplished builds a bridge over the chasm that separates us from our Heavenly Father. We can rest from our work and labor today because of His finished work on that day.
JOURNAL: What old ideas and beliefs do you find yourself returning to? What is God telling you to trust Him in?
PRAYER: Ask God to help you to put your complete trust in Him and thank Him for all He’s done and continues to do in your life.
After numerous episodes of falling and crying, on top of discouragement and frustration, she finally began to catch on. Somewhere between the frustration of learning to ride without training wheels and briefly balancing a new bike by herself, the joy of accomplishment and perseverance had become a reality, and you could see it on her face. Logyn could finally ride along with her older sister and her friends throughout the neighborhood without falling behind and without pushing her bike with training wheels to its maximum limit.
As I thought through this, I saw that it illustrates the current situation of the Jewish converts to whom the author of the book of Hebrews is writing. He’s writing to encourage the Jewish believers to not turn from faith in Jesus the Messiah and revert back to the Mosaic laws, rites, and rituals. The Jewish converts received intense persecution and pressure from unbelieving Jews, so much so that some began to walk away from the faith entirely. The author of Hebrews implores the Hebrew believers to hold fast to their professed faith and remember that Jesus is supreme and His promises are secure. We have victory only in Him. Eternal life and atonement is found in His work on the cross alone. What the bicycles with training wheels of old couldn't give us, we now have in a greater way in the new bike without training wheels.
The old covenant stands as a shadow and symbol of the greater reality that we live in today, found in a better covenant established on better promises. Hebrews chapter 4 tells us we no longer need to labor, for those in Christ have rested from their labors. Labor here speaks to works as a basis for our own righteousness. Because of Christ, our righteousness is established on His work and not our labor. We should be intentional about reminding ourselves that Jesus is better and His work is sufficient. We face daily temptation to return to old ideas, systems, and self-dependent ways as a form of self righteousness. But Jesus desires that we place our trust in Him because what He did is better than anything we could do, and what He accomplished builds a bridge over the chasm that separates us from our Heavenly Father. We can rest from our work and labor today because of His finished work on that day.
JOURNAL: What old ideas and beliefs do you find yourself returning to? What is God telling you to trust Him in?
PRAYER: Ask God to help you to put your complete trust in Him and thank Him for all He’s done and continues to do in your life.
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