Therefore, since we are surrounded by
such an amazing crowd of witnesses, let us divest ourselves of everything which
hinders our progress, and the sin which causes us to stumble. And let us run
with endurance the race which has been designed for us, fixing our eyes on
Christ Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of our Faith. Since He realized the joy
which awaited Him at the end of His earthly mission, Jesus willingly endured
the agony of the cross. And having scorned the shame of it, sat down at the
right hand of His Father in heaven. Consider Jesus Christ, the God-man, who
experienced such opposition from unbelievers, and you will not become doubtful,
depressed or disillusioned.
In your current struggle, you have
not been forced to shed your life blood. Have you forgotten the following Word
of encouragement which speaks to you as a father would speak to his son?
“My son, you should not resent the
discipline with which you have been inflicted, and do not lose heart when you
are punished by God.
For the Lord disciplines the son whom
He loves,
and He punishes the son whom He
accepts.”
Endure difficulties with grace. For
what son is not disciplined by his father? If you cannot remember being
disciplined, then perhaps you are illegitimate, and not a son, at all. We have
had human fathers who punished us, and we offered them respect. How much more
willingly should we submit ourselves to the Father of spirits and live. Our
earthly fathers disciplined us in the days of our youth. And though their
perspectives were flawed and fragile, most did the best they knew to do. But
God’s discipline is always just, and He disciplines us throughout the course of
our lives, so that we might share in His righteousness.
No discipline is convenient when it
is occurring, but rather, painful. Later, however, it produces a rich harvest
of peace and righteousness for those who have endured it, and have learned from
it.
Therefore, strengthen your mind and
spirit. Walk the straight and narrow pathway, so that you may experience
healing for your spiritual lameness. Make every effort to live out your lives
in peace, and embrace holiness. Be assured, without holiness, no one can expect
to see God. Be sure that no one falls short of the magnificent grace of the
Almighty, and don’t allow resentment and indignation to take root in your
spirit for this can easily poison valued relationships. Avoid sexual
immorality, godlessness, and greed, such as Esau exhibited, who for a bowl of
soup exchanged his birthright. Afterwards, when this man expected to inherit the
blessing, he was denied. Though he tearfully sought the blessing of his father,
the deed was done, and there was no reversing the decision.
You have not approached a mountain that
you are not allowed to touch, which is dark and burning with sulfurous fire,
and a tremendous wind and a trumpet blast, and loud and fearsome Words. Those
who heard the voice pleaded for it to cease because they could hardly believe
the command. For the voice commanded that even if an animal touched the
mountain, it should be stoned, or put to death with a spear. As a result, Moses
experienced such anxiety that he exclaimed, “I am mortified with fear!”
However, you have not approached an
earthly Mount Sinai, but rather, a heavenly Mount Zion, the very city of Jehovah
God, the New Jerusalem, and the hosts of heaven’s armies. You are privileged to
experience the worship of the cherubim and seraphim, and to observe the countless
saints who have gone before; whose names are written in the heavenlies.
Yes, you have arrived at Mount Zion, to
the Judge of all the earth, to the righteous spirits who have been made perfect,
to Jesus Christ, the Mediator of the New Covenant, and to the sprinkled blood
which has spoken a better Word, than that of Abel, Adam’s son.
Be sure that you do not turn your
back on Him who speaks. If those on earth refused the warning of the messengers
who were sent to them, and reaped eternal punishment, how will we escape if we
drift away from Him Who has warned us from heaven?
At that time, His voice caused
tremors in the earth, but now He has promised,
“Yet, once more I will not only shake
the earth, but the very heavens!”
The phrase, “Yet, once more” signals
the removal of those things which are capable of being shaken, that is, earthly,
created things, so that which is incapable of being shaken, that is, the
heavenly things, may remain.
Therefore, since we have received a Kingdom
which can never be shaken, let us be thankful, and always attempt to please our
Maker. Let us worship our Lord with great reverence, and awe.
For our God is a consuming fire.
Hebrews Chapter 12 (from the McDonald Paraphrase of the New Testament. Copyright 2019)
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