Hebrews 12
God Disciplines His Sons
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Observation:
The author now encourages the believers to persevere even in the midst of persecution and suffering. He reminds them that even as they go through painful trials nothing is outside of God’s purview. God allows believers to suffer to enable them to grow more disciplined in their faith and trust. As they suffer or undergo hardship for their faith, they should fix their eyes on Jesus the author and perfector of his faith!
If the believers might be feeling sorry for themselves for what they are going through the author reminds them, “In your struggle against sin you have not resisted to the point of shedding blood.” The chapter ends with a description of God’s holiness, and recalls Old Testament images of God’s consuming fire that showed up in the midst of the Israelites. He recalls the Holy Mountain upon which God came and dwelt and how animals had to be stoned if they touched it.
Finally, he encourages them that no matter what they are going through or how they are shaken on this earth, they are receiving a kingdom that cannot can be shaken.
Application:
The author Hebrews very much has a pastor’s heart. You get the point that this church needed a “wake up” call. There were some “pity parties” going on and these believers needed to be challenged to step up and remember just who it was they were following and serving.
It is easy to get casual with God and in our desire to bring people into a relationship with God, sometimes we paint a picture of God as our “ole buddy”. While it is true God very much desires a relationship with us and wants for us to come to him as a son would come to his father, these verses remind us that as we enter in God’s presence we are very much on “holy ground”.
One of the downfalls of some contemporary worship can be that it becomes so “familiar” that we lose site of the holiness of God. Or in the words writer of Hebrews “Our God is a consuming fire.” There is a healthy fear of God that helps us to not take Him for granted. Although God is a God of grace and many second chances, we shouldn’t use this aspect of His character to take Him or His holiness for granted. As this healthy fear keeps us from getting entangled in things that would not bring glory to His name.
Prayer: God is easy to get entangled with the things of the world. But you have set us apart to be a holy people. As we worship you continue to give us a taste of who you are and change us from the inside out. As we face struggles and hardship keep our eyes on Jesus the author and perfector of our faith. We know that He will lead us into your presence and give us an example to follow to show the world who you are. In His name, Amen.
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Observation:
The author now encourages the believers to persevere even in the midst of persecution and suffering. He reminds them that even as they go through painful trials nothing is outside of God’s purview. God allows believers to suffer to enable them to grow more disciplined in their faith and trust. As they suffer or undergo hardship for their faith, they should fix their eyes on Jesus the author and perfector of his faith!
If the believers might be feeling sorry for themselves for what they are going through the author reminds them, “In your struggle against sin you have not resisted to the point of shedding blood.” The chapter ends with a description of God’s holiness, and recalls Old Testament images of God’s consuming fire that showed up in the midst of the Israelites. He recalls the Holy Mountain upon which God came and dwelt and how animals had to be stoned if they touched it.
Finally, he encourages them that no matter what they are going through or how they are shaken on this earth, they are receiving a kingdom that cannot can be shaken.
Application:
The author Hebrews very much has a pastor’s heart. You get the point that this church needed a “wake up” call. There were some “pity parties” going on and these believers needed to be challenged to step up and remember just who it was they were following and serving.
It is easy to get casual with God and in our desire to bring people into a relationship with God, sometimes we paint a picture of God as our “ole buddy”. While it is true God very much desires a relationship with us and wants for us to come to him as a son would come to his father, these verses remind us that as we enter in God’s presence we are very much on “holy ground”.
One of the downfalls of some contemporary worship can be that it becomes so “familiar” that we lose site of the holiness of God. Or in the words writer of Hebrews “Our God is a consuming fire.” There is a healthy fear of God that helps us to not take Him for granted. Although God is a God of grace and many second chances, we shouldn’t use this aspect of His character to take Him or His holiness for granted. As this healthy fear keeps us from getting entangled in things that would not bring glory to His name.
Prayer: God is easy to get entangled with the things of the world. But you have set us apart to be a holy people. As we worship you continue to give us a taste of who you are and change us from the inside out. As we face struggles and hardship keep our eyes on Jesus the author and perfector of our faith. We know that He will lead us into your presence and give us an example to follow to show the world who you are. In His name, Amen.
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