When Good Things Become Substitutes for Jesus

Orlando Juarez • Lead Pastor
September 23, 2026

4 Minute Read

Most of us would never intentionally choose a ritual over a relationship. But sometimes, without realizing it, that’s exactly what happens.

We start with something meaningful. We pray because we want to know God. We read Scripture because we want to hear from Him. We go to church because we want to grow. We worship because we want to honor Him.

Then, over time, those same things can become routine.

We still do them. We just don’t always stop to think about the One they were meant to lead us toward.

That raises an important question: Can something good become something that gets in the way of what’s better?

When the Means Becomes the End

The Old Testament is filled with sacrifices, feasts, offerings, priests, and instructions for approaching God. These things mattered. God gave them to His people for a purpose, but they were never meant to be the destination.

Hebrews 10:1 describes the law as “only a shadow of the good things that are coming.” A shadow is real, but it isn’t the person casting it. It points beyond itself.

The sacrifices pointed toward Jesus. The feasts pointed toward Jesus. The priesthood pointed toward Jesus.

The entire system was teaching God’s people about sin, holiness, forgiveness, sacrifice, and ultimately God’s desire to dwell with His people.

But there was a danger of becoming so focused on the system that they missed what the system was pointing toward.

We can do the same thing.

When Routine Replaces Relationship

Think about the things you regularly do in your relationship with God.

Maybe you have a Bible-reading plan. Maybe you pray every morning. Maybe you listen to worship music on your way to work. Maybe you never miss church.

Those are all good things.

But ask yourself: Are these practices helping me know Jesus, or am I simply measuring how well I’m doing at being a Christian?

There’s a difference.

Prayer isn’t about checking a box. It’s about talking to your Father.

Reading Scripture isn’t about completing a plan. It’s about knowing the God who has revealed Himself through His Word.

Gathering with the church isn’t about maintaining attendance. It’s about being part of the body of Christ.

The only reason the practice has value is because of the relationship.

When we forget that, something intended to draw us closer to God can quietly become another form of performance.

Draw Near

This is what makes Hebrews 10 so powerful.

After explaining that Jesus offered Himself once for all, the writer gives us an invitation:

“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings.” — Hebrews 10:22

Draw near.

Not hide. Not perform. Not prove yourself worthy.

Draw near.

Our confidence isn’t based on how consistently we pray, how much Scripture we read, or how well we managed to get everything right. Hebrews 10:23 tells us to hold tightly to our hope because God can be trusted to keep His promise.

That changes the way we approach spiritual practices.

Why Does It Matter?

We pray because we have a Father who wants us to draw near.

We read Scripture because we want to know Him.

We worship because He is worthy.

We gather because we are part of His body.

We serve because love moves us to action.

The goal isn’t just to become better at the practices. The goal is to become more aware of Jesus through them.

So maybe the question isn’t, “Am I doing enough?”

Maybe it’s, “Is what I’m doing helping me draw closer to Jesus?”

If the answer is yes, keep going.

If the answer is no, don’t simply try harder. Stop. Remember what the practice is pointing toward. And draw near to Jesus again.

Because the goal was never the ritual. The goal was always the relationship.

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