Daily Bread 2011 - Hebrews 12
God Disciplines His Sons
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 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter 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. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”
What Does This Mean?
The author transitions from chapter 11 (the “Hall of Faith”) to how we can apply this teaching today. “Therefore” always indicates in lieu of what I have just shared with you, you should… In this case, we get three more “let us” statements, indicating how we can and should respond. Let us “throw off”, “run with perseverance” and “fix our eyes on Jesus”. Though Jesus has already accomplished everything we need on the cross, and in that sense we don’t need to do anything, the writer teaches us how to respond what has been done.
First, we should throw off sin that so easily entangles us. Notice it is easy to get entangled in sin, and the sooner we recognize it, the better and more easily we can throw it off. The deeper we get into the web of sin, and the more tangled it gets, it will not be so easy to throw off. A good example of this is addiction. What started off as a simple pleasure, if not governed by God, can turn into an addiction that can ruin someone’s life. I.e. I have seen this many times!!
Secondly, it says to run with perseverance the race. The Christian life is more of a marathon than a sprint, but to finish we do need to run. Like any race, there are many quitting points, and that is why we need perseverance to finish the race. When we run in a race, we need to train and also need water along the way, so we don’t get dehydrated. Also, it helps to have encouragement from people out there on the road of life. I have run in many races, and know how true this is. It is the same thing with the “Christian race”. We need to be hydrated with the word of God, we need to train in prayer, and have others who encourage us to not quit, and “keep on keeping on”.
Finally, it says to fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith. Our faith begins and ends with Jesus, as he gives us strength and joy for the journey. Jesus gives us an example of how to endure hardship with God’s help. We don’t have a distant God who can’t relate to our struggles, but one who in every way has been tempted and tried, and yet was faithful! This same Jesus walks with us and intercedes for us to finish the race. What a great promise!
What Does This Mean For Us?
It means as we realize these great truths, we will put them into practice. We have a great cloud of witnesses that inspire us to finish the race, but they can’t run the race for us. The only one who can run your race is you. But importantly there are others in your life that can help you and can train with you. Small groups are ideal for this. It is worth it to have 4-5 people who know you and are equally committed to running the race, keeping their eyes on Jesus and finishing. There is nothing better than finishing together and enjoying the post-race party, as you remember the great race and your accomplishment of doing it together.
One day there will be a great party in heaven that God will throw and Jesus will be there too, along with all the saints who have trusted in Christ up until the finish line. The Christian life/race isn’t easy, but it is worth it! Jesus started the race for you, and will help you finish, but you will need to run the race with perseverance empowered by the Holy Spirit (better than Gatorade!). The Holy Spirit will keep you hydrated with all of the energy of Christ working within you to finish well. As you fix your eyes on Jesus you will finish the race, you can count on that!
Jesus thank you for calling us to run this great race of faith. Thanks for all who have gone before us who have finished the race with your help. Thanks for the Holy Spirit who gives us to the power to run and to finish well. In Your name we pray, Amen.
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 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter 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. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”
What Does This Mean?
The author transitions from chapter 11 (the “Hall of Faith”) to how we can apply this teaching today. “Therefore” always indicates in lieu of what I have just shared with you, you should… In this case, we get three more “let us” statements, indicating how we can and should respond. Let us “throw off”, “run with perseverance” and “fix our eyes on Jesus”. Though Jesus has already accomplished everything we need on the cross, and in that sense we don’t need to do anything, the writer teaches us how to respond what has been done.
First, we should throw off sin that so easily entangles us. Notice it is easy to get entangled in sin, and the sooner we recognize it, the better and more easily we can throw it off. The deeper we get into the web of sin, and the more tangled it gets, it will not be so easy to throw off. A good example of this is addiction. What started off as a simple pleasure, if not governed by God, can turn into an addiction that can ruin someone’s life. I.e. I have seen this many times!!
Secondly, it says to run with perseverance the race. The Christian life is more of a marathon than a sprint, but to finish we do need to run. Like any race, there are many quitting points, and that is why we need perseverance to finish the race. When we run in a race, we need to train and also need water along the way, so we don’t get dehydrated. Also, it helps to have encouragement from people out there on the road of life. I have run in many races, and know how true this is. It is the same thing with the “Christian race”. We need to be hydrated with the word of God, we need to train in prayer, and have others who encourage us to not quit, and “keep on keeping on”.
Finally, it says to fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith. Our faith begins and ends with Jesus, as he gives us strength and joy for the journey. Jesus gives us an example of how to endure hardship with God’s help. We don’t have a distant God who can’t relate to our struggles, but one who in every way has been tempted and tried, and yet was faithful! This same Jesus walks with us and intercedes for us to finish the race. What a great promise!
What Does This Mean For Us?
It means as we realize these great truths, we will put them into practice. We have a great cloud of witnesses that inspire us to finish the race, but they can’t run the race for us. The only one who can run your race is you. But importantly there are others in your life that can help you and can train with you. Small groups are ideal for this. It is worth it to have 4-5 people who know you and are equally committed to running the race, keeping their eyes on Jesus and finishing. There is nothing better than finishing together and enjoying the post-race party, as you remember the great race and your accomplishment of doing it together.
One day there will be a great party in heaven that God will throw and Jesus will be there too, along with all the saints who have trusted in Christ up until the finish line. The Christian life/race isn’t easy, but it is worth it! Jesus started the race for you, and will help you finish, but you will need to run the race with perseverance empowered by the Holy Spirit (better than Gatorade!). The Holy Spirit will keep you hydrated with all of the energy of Christ working within you to finish well. As you fix your eyes on Jesus you will finish the race, you can count on that!
Jesus thank you for calling us to run this great race of faith. Thanks for all who have gone before us who have finished the race with your help. Thanks for the Holy Spirit who gives us to the power to run and to finish well. In Your name we pray, Amen.
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