Hb. 1-9 discusses sacrifices; 10 addresses the transition; 11 is the Hall of Faith, and 12 speaks of this race or marathon of faith. I began running with an 85-year-old man who has been a marathon runner for decades. Perseverance in a race requires the correct movements, speed, and the appropriate gear... running is more manageable than walking. In 2 Timothy 4:7, the Apostle Paul mentions the race he runs several times because it's not a casual walk but a marathon. A marathon

The most important event of my life happened when I was four years old. My parents used to listen to a radio program called Spiritual Café, which was only 5 minutes long. One day, as I was around, paying attention, I suddenly felt like the Word of God was talking to me. Something new was forming within me as I listened. From then on, I started living with a clear awareness of the existence of God. This experience made me want to hear more about His word and presence. I grew u

Do you know what the most condemned sin by God in the Bible is? Idolatry. The first two commandments, as well as other scriptures, repeatedly denounce any form of idolatry. “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3), whether it be a god carved in wood or a famous football player, a musician, a pastor, a priest, a Hollywood star, or a gospel star. God deals with idolatry in two ways: either we repent or are destroyed by it. He did not even spare his own people whe

"If conversion makes no improvement in the person in relation to his actions, then I think this 'conversion' is largely imaginary." (C.S. Lewis). We must be diligent about being born again and our future in eternity. What would an imaginary conversion to Christ look like? It’s a conversion that might possess all the characteristics of a true one. Still, it lacks the main element of being born again. John 3:3 says, Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kin

"Your yes means nothing until you learn to say no" (author unknown). We've learned that we can be displeased if we say what's in our hearts. So even if our heart says no, we say yes because we do not want to be disapproved. If our relationships are based on pleasing people, these relationships are false and fragile and can be destroyed anytime. The person who is a true friend will give us the freedom to be who we are, accept us the way we are, and respect our position, even i

Priests and pastors agree on one topic: they hear thousands of confessions of sins, but rarely do they hear someone confess the sin of covetousness. This means that this sin is unknown to us. Covetousness is the tenth commandment, viewing this sin as the mother of the other nine. The nine condemned sins are external actions, and the tenth, covetousness, is an internal sin, an attitude. As Christians, by not acknowledging or ignoring covetousness, we are doomed to destruction.