"Who I Am in Christ" Hebrews 12 - January 13, 2023 - Paul Brooks
Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/HEB.12.NIV
. Welcome to the Daily SOAP from New Hope. This is Paul Brooks, your guest host for today. I hope you are having a good day. Today we will explore Hebrews 12:1-3. It actually refers back to Hebrews 11, considered to be the “Hall of Fame” of faith. I encourage you to read both chapters 11 and 12. January 13, 2023 Read Hebrews 12:1-3
Scripture – Hebrews 12:1-3: 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. Each verse of this passage speaks to me in its own right.
Verse 1 paints a glorious picture of the saints surrounding us and cheering us on every step of our lives. Like a marathon runner, we move among them and they offer us encouragement, refreshment, prayer, and if we falter, they stay with us, through the finish line. Next time you bow your head in prayer, consider that around you are the likes of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Gideon, Samson, David, and the prophets. Not only those, but I also envision my parents, my friends who have passed on. A great cloud of witnesses, indeed! “Throw off everything that hinders you”, they say.
Verse 2 reminds us that Jesus is in that crowd, too. We are to fix our eyes on Him who sacrificed everything for our salvation, died for us, rose again, and ascended into Heaven, where he is seated at the right hand of God the Father. And he prays for us as believers, as recounted in John 17:20-26.
Verse 3 challenges us to consider his victory over the sin of this world, so that we do not grow weary and lose heart. He is the perfect picture of how we should strive to live, and the promise of our ultimate hope.
And collectively, they help me focus on an important word for all of us: Perseverance. Jesus told us, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” The history of Christianity, going all the way back to Eden, is a history of persevering through trouble. The challenges we face today are a continuation of the challenge of this world. But we are to carry on.
Two memories come to mind. The first is that old children’s hymn, which my Mom had us sing at her celebration of life, that starts out, “I sing a song of the saints of God “Patient and brave and true, “Who toiled and fought and lived and died “For the Lord they loved and knew. “And one was a doctor, and one was a queen, “And one was a shepherdess on the green: “They were all of them saints of God – and I mean, “God helping, to be one too.”
The second is my most enduring verse from the Bible, Romans 5:1-5. It hit my heart when my Dad was placed in the care of hospice, and was a source of discussion between us about faith, about suffering, and about hope. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” Dad persevered through 18 months before going on to glory.
So, as we face the challenges of this world, remember the amazing cloud of witnesses cheering us on. Remember the hope they promise us if we just persevere. Remember the character we are building as we run the race and strive to be part of that cloud for eternity. And there are more, right here on earth, cheering us on. As the song ends: “You can meet them in school, or in lanes, or at sea, “In church, or in trains, or in shops, or at tea, “For the saints of God are just folks like me, “And I mean to be one too.”
Let’s pray. Almighty God, thank you for the grace you have given us through Jesus Christ. As this world poses challenges, help us remember that great cloud of witnesses cheering us on. Help us keep the faith and persevere through the turmoil and strife of this world, remaining focused on Jesus. And help us all, even as broken as we are, be a saint of God for those around us. Amen. Paul Brooks .
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Our staff and leadership employ what's called the “S.O.A.P. Method”. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Each day, we read one or two chapters of Scripture and focus on one particular verse. We make some observations about how that verse touches us, discern how it applies to our lives, and offer a prayer related to what we have read. -- Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe at: http://www.findnewhope.com/soap (813) 689-4161 keywords: devotional, bible study
