Thursday Devo
Scripture:
Hebrews 12
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. 4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. 4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.
Commentary:
12:1 cloud of witnesses. These are the OT “heroes of the faith” in ch. 11, as is indicated by the therefore in 12:1 and by the Greek wordplay between “witnesses” (martys, v. 1) and “commended” (martyreō, 11:39). “Witnesses” may have a double meaning: (1) These OT heroes witnessed to their faith by their words and their faithful lives. (2) Like spectators watching an athletic contest in an arena, they may now be watching or “witnessing” believers’ lives. The first sense is a common meaning for the word, but in this verse the imagery of being surrounded by these witnesses gives the sense that they are eagerly watching from heaven, and the image of running the race that is set before us might lead one to think of an athletic race in a sports arena, with all these heroes of the faith from ch. 11 watching as present-day believers take their turn in the same race that they once ran. However, nowhere else does the NT envisage saints in heaven watching saints on earth, nor does it encourage Christians ever to pray to these believers in heaven or to ask for their prayers. Christ prays for his people (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25) and is the only mediator between them and God (1 Tim. 2:5). The Holy Spirit helps their prayers (Rom. 8:26–27), and all Christians are priests with the right of direct access to God (Heb. 4:16; 10:22; 1 Pet. 2:5, 9). lay aside. This first exhortation pictures sin as a weight (or “impediment”) to be discarded, since otherwise it ensnares or obstructs the athlete. let us run. A metaphor also found in Paul (1 Cor. 9:24–27; 2 Tim. 4:7–8), with a focus on endurance in the faith (see Heb. 12:2–3; cf. 10:32, 36).
12:2 founder. See note on 2:10. perfecter. Through his atoning work, Christ’s perfection leads to the perfection of his people (which will be realized fully on the last day; see note on 11:39–40). for the joy that was set before him endured. The cross of Christ represents the greatest suffering in history, for Jesus not only suffered physically but also experienced God’s just wrath in taking upon himself the sin of the world. Still, the promise of future reward and joy gave Jesus strength to suffer. despising the shame. Crucifixion, performed naked and in public, and inflicting prolonged pain on the victim, was intended to cause shame as well as death (cf. 6:6; see note on Matt. 27:35). at the right hand. See Heb. 1:3, 13; 8:1; 10:12.
12:3–17 Do Not Grow Weary. Earthly trials actually testify to the fatherly discipline of God. Such trials call for a response of endurance, and the author cautions against rejection of this character training.
12:3 Consider him. Jesus (v. 2). endured. Again emphasizing perseverance (as in vv. 1–2). Many of the readers could identify with the hostility shown to Jesus (see 10:32–34; 13:3), though on a lesser scale (12:4). weary or fainthearted. See v. 5.
12:4 struggle against sin. Although they are suffering persecution, the readers were not suffering martyrdom, and hence their main test is fighting their own sinful nature. Not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood contrasts with Jesus’ endurance of the cross (v. 2; cf. 11:37).
12:2 founder. See note on 2:10. perfecter. Through his atoning work, Christ’s perfection leads to the perfection of his people (which will be realized fully on the last day; see note on 11:39–40). for the joy that was set before him endured. The cross of Christ represents the greatest suffering in history, for Jesus not only suffered physically but also experienced God’s just wrath in taking upon himself the sin of the world. Still, the promise of future reward and joy gave Jesus strength to suffer. despising the shame. Crucifixion, performed naked and in public, and inflicting prolonged pain on the victim, was intended to cause shame as well as death (cf. 6:6; see note on Matt. 27:35). at the right hand. See Heb. 1:3, 13; 8:1; 10:12.
12:3–17 Do Not Grow Weary. Earthly trials actually testify to the fatherly discipline of God. Such trials call for a response of endurance, and the author cautions against rejection of this character training.
12:3 Consider him. Jesus (v. 2). endured. Again emphasizing perseverance (as in vv. 1–2). Many of the readers could identify with the hostility shown to Jesus (see 10:32–34; 13:3), though on a lesser scale (12:4). weary or fainthearted. See v. 5.
12:4 struggle against sin. Although they are suffering persecution, the readers were not suffering martyrdom, and hence their main test is fighting their own sinful nature. Not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood contrasts with Jesus’ endurance of the cross (v. 2; cf. 11:37).
Questions:
- Brandon's first challenge was, "Don't play games with God!" Don't be like the sons of Seva, who were using the name of Jesus fraudulently. Don't be like the Christians in Ephesus who, though they were saved, were still messing around with spirits and powers that were contrary to God. Is there anything in your life that is sinful, contrary to God's best, that you are toying with or allowing access to you?
- Maybe it's time to rid yourself of what is holding you back, as the writer of Hebrews says. Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Have you been playing games with God? Have you been a pretender, someone who is talking the talk but not fully walking the walk?
Prayer Topics:
- That you would throw off everything that entangles you.
- That you would walk the walk this week.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
4. Can a person be good enough to go to heaven? No. Because Jesus rose from the dead, proving He is God, I believe a person is saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-25, 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:23, 10:1-4, 10:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:4-7)
(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-25, 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:23, 10:1-4, 10:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:4-7)
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