“Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them. We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat” (Hebrews 13:9-10)

Have you ever tried to follow a complicated recipe or a strict new wellness plan? At first, you feel highly motivated. But soon, the long list of rules becomes completely exhausting. You spend more time worrying about making a mistake than you do actually enjoying the process.

Our spiritual lives can easily fall into this exact same trap. We have a natural human tendency to want to add rules, rituals, and strict guidelines to our faith. But there is a profound instruction in the book of Hebrews that cuts through all this noise: “Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them.”

A few years ago, a couple joined our church community. After settling in, they quietly began sharing a new idea with anyone who would listen. They taught that to truly follow Jesus, we needed to adopt a mixture of grace and ancient customs. They insisted that since Jesus lived under those strict cultural rules, we were obligated to do the exact same thing.

Needless to say, this teaching quickly caused deep confusion. It turned a peaceful community into a place of conflict and heavy burdens. When our leadership gently tried to address the situation, the couple quickly left and never returned.

One of the most striking things about this situation is how old this problem really is. This is the exact same struggle that bewildered the early church in Galatia shortly after the Apostle Paul visited them. Human beings love to measure their worth by checking off boxes.

But here is a beautiful truth: Jesus came to offer us something completely different. As the Gospel of John reminds us, "From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." (John 1:16-17)

Grace simply means God's unearned favor. The profound message of grace tells us that what we could never achieve on our own, God already accomplished through Jesus. He brought us back to the Father so we could experience a genuine, loving relationship. There is not a single thing we can add to what Jesus already did. So why do we exhaust ourselves trying?

When we allow our hearts to be deeply rooted in grace, that truth actively protects us from confusing teachings.

If a new trend tells you that you must follow strict, rigid laws to be holy, grace gently reminds you that God has already fashioned you in His own true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24).

If someone insists you must follow specific dietary rules to please God, grace points you to the reality that God's kingdom is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and deep joy (Romans 14:17).

If you are pressured to keep a strict, legalistic schedule to find peace, grace reassures you that Jesus Christ Himself is your true, lasting Sabbath rest (Colossians 2:16-17; Hebrews 4:9-11).

In the final chapters of Hebrews, we see this incredible promise unfold. Grace is the very thing that strengthens and encourages us through every single season of life. We begin this journey by grace, and we will cross the finish line by grace. It is a constant that will never change.

Take a quiet moment to reflect on your own spiritual journey today. Are you currently carrying a heavy checklist of rules, secretly trying to earn God's love? How might leaning fully into His unmerited grace lighten your load and truly strengthen your heart this week?

You are already deeply loved and entirely secure. Allow yourself to rest in that beautiful grace today.

Personal Reflection Questions

1. Are there any unnecessary spiritual rules or checklists shaping your daily habits?

2. How does knowing God has done everything through Jesus shape your faith today?

3. What burden can you let go of this week to embrace God's grace more fully?