🗒21st March 2021
🗣 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].” Hebrews 12:1-2 AMP
✒️ In rapid succession Paul illustrates Christian living by comparing it to the life of a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer. I have never served in the military, I am not an athlete, and I was not raised on a farm. But I get the point of Paul’s examples. He brackets his images with the words “Join with me in suffering … . I endure everything for the sake of the elect.”
Soldiers endure discipline, separation, combat, and at times a seemingly arbitrary commanding officer. Athletes endure training, sweat, sore muscles, and at times defeat, which can be heartbreaking and humiliating. Farmers endure uncertain weather, cantankerous animals, balky machinery, and at times devastating loss.
But endurance is not limited to three professions. Plumbers, accountants, teachers, students, parents, nurses—all endure. Add your own occupation to the list.
Being human requires endurance. And endurance requires grace. That’s why Paul prefaces his call to endurance with these words: “Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”
No one endured more than Jesus. He endured the cross as he took on himself the penalty for all our sin—that we might have life. So we fix our eyes on him, who focused on the joy of winning that victory for us.
🙏🏾 Father, may the endurance of Jesus enable us to endure for him. In his name we hope. Amen.
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*SeekYeFirstJesus*
Written by Ama Ghana @seekyefirstjesus
Ama Ghana is a Servant of God and the Founder of Seek Ye First Christian blog.
She blogs here
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