Daily Bread 2010 - Hebrews 12
1 Therefore, 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, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
It seems as though chapter 12 is the great “Therefore” chapter (see Romans 12) in the bible. Again, “therefore” alerts the reader that in light of everything I have just laid out, make sure you get this…! In this case, the writer of Hebrews says, “Since we are surrounded by these great heroes in the Old Testament who lived by faith, we should get rid of everything that slows us down in our own journey of faith”.
Part of what hinders us is sin. He uses the phrase, “The sin that so easily entangles us”. What a great image of sin. I remember when I started out playing football, that all the pads and helmet and rest of the equipment loaded me down so much I couldn’t even run with the ball. In a way that is like how sin is, it weighs us down and hinders us from running the race well. And as it says, it is easy to get entangled in sin and hard to get out.
But instead, he encourages us to run the race with perseverance, and fix our eyes on Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. When I have run marathons it was important to keep my eyes fixed on the goal, the finish line. The only way to get through the wall (mile 19 thru mile 26) was to realize that there was going to be an end soon. As we get tired in the race of faith, it is good for us to keep our eye on the finish line. And also to keep our eye on the one who has promised to run with us until we make it home. Jesus promised he would never leave or forsake us, but often we forget to run with Him.
When we get weary and want to lose heart, we can remember that there is never anything we are going through that Jesus, our coach, hasn’t gone through. Jesus is there for us in our highs and lows, and actually carries us sometimes when things get to heavy for us to bear. That is why it is so important to keep our eyes on him, so that we don’t try to do it all in our own strength!
Where are you at in the race? Just starting? Getting back in the race? Going strong? In need of a water break? At the wall? At the finish line? May you run with perseverance knowing that He who began a good work in you will complete it! Receive the encouragement from others who God has called alongside you to run the race with you. Don’t try to go it alone! One day when we all finish, we will be so glad we didn’t quit!
Dear Jesus, thank you for running the race and finishing it. We know that you wait for us to cross the finish line, and are out there on the course of life encouraging us and praying for us to break through quitting points along the way. Thank you that with your help we will make it back home! In Jesus’ name, Amen
It seems as though chapter 12 is the great “Therefore” chapter (see Romans 12) in the bible. Again, “therefore” alerts the reader that in light of everything I have just laid out, make sure you get this…! In this case, the writer of Hebrews says, “Since we are surrounded by these great heroes in the Old Testament who lived by faith, we should get rid of everything that slows us down in our own journey of faith”.
Part of what hinders us is sin. He uses the phrase, “The sin that so easily entangles us”. What a great image of sin. I remember when I started out playing football, that all the pads and helmet and rest of the equipment loaded me down so much I couldn’t even run with the ball. In a way that is like how sin is, it weighs us down and hinders us from running the race well. And as it says, it is easy to get entangled in sin and hard to get out.
But instead, he encourages us to run the race with perseverance, and fix our eyes on Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. When I have run marathons it was important to keep my eyes fixed on the goal, the finish line. The only way to get through the wall (mile 19 thru mile 26) was to realize that there was going to be an end soon. As we get tired in the race of faith, it is good for us to keep our eye on the finish line. And also to keep our eye on the one who has promised to run with us until we make it home. Jesus promised he would never leave or forsake us, but often we forget to run with Him.
When we get weary and want to lose heart, we can remember that there is never anything we are going through that Jesus, our coach, hasn’t gone through. Jesus is there for us in our highs and lows, and actually carries us sometimes when things get to heavy for us to bear. That is why it is so important to keep our eyes on him, so that we don’t try to do it all in our own strength!
Where are you at in the race? Just starting? Getting back in the race? Going strong? In need of a water break? At the wall? At the finish line? May you run with perseverance knowing that He who began a good work in you will complete it! Receive the encouragement from others who God has called alongside you to run the race with you. Don’t try to go it alone! One day when we all finish, we will be so glad we didn’t quit!
Dear Jesus, thank you for running the race and finishing it. We know that you wait for us to cross the finish line, and are out there on the course of life encouraging us and praying for us to break through quitting points along the way. Thank you that with your help we will make it back home! In Jesus’ name, Amen
Comments
Post a Comment