Stop watching the Wrong Contest

Nowadays with the possibility of watching multiple media venues at once, you can be watching multiple sports events simultaneously. And that’s a rather modern expression but contemporary problem of our multi-tasking culture.

At the end of life on earth, Jesus made it clear to Peter that each of the disciples would have to run his own race. Peter looked back at John and inquired about what kind of race John would have to run, Jesus simply said, “when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go” (John 21:18). In other words, He said “Stop looking at other peoples’ contests. Pay attention to your own (Heb. 12:2).

What are you looking at today? Whose race are you watching? “Did you begin by fixing your eyes on Jesus?”

Are You Waiting to Hear I've entered my Final Rest?

The writer of Hebrews promised a time when we will enter His Final rest (Heb. 4:1, 9,11). In my experience, too many people don't understand "Final Rest," and are therefore unable to enter it!

The reason God rested is that His work was finished. The reason we are able to rest is that our ‘work’ is identical. Jesus finished it for us! We are free from self-effort. Quite simply, the Sabbath Rest means we are “dead to sin and alive to God” (Rom. 6:11). John says, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on, so that they may rest from their labors” (Rev. 14:13).

Think of this. Under the Old Covenant, the "day of rest" was on the last day of the week. Under the New Covenant, the first day of the week became the "day of rest,” illustrating a principle: you must enter His rest before you begin to do His work; and you must enter His rest in order to do His work!  Should I be waiting to hear one from telling me about yours too?"