LEARNING DAILY

 

Hebrews 12:1, 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 hinders our progress.  And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. (NLT)

 

Some days I wonder why I write what I do in this blog.  Sometimes the question “why” is answered by someone’s comment a day or two later.  Hebrews 11 is about Bible characters that are not perfect, challenged by God to do something; all were obedient out of faith, even when they did not understand the “why”.  I believe this chapter was written to be an encouragement for each of us to walk in our faith, knowing that God is sovereign and in control of every situation we face.  Each of us is facing something that we might not understand regarding our health or our relationships or our uncertainty about tomorrow.  Reading about “witnesses to the life of faith” should encourage us through the difficulties we face, no matter what they are.

 

The race set before each of us is really a lifelong test of faith set in an evil and unrighteous world.  I am sure you have heard someone refer to life as a marathon and not a sprint.  The race the writer of Hebrews is writing about must be run with patience, perseverance, and endurance.  Look to these who have placed their lives in God’s hands through faith and experienced His faithfulness and know that you can look to them and be encouraged to run the race set before you.  As I have written before, the race is run on the narrow way with the finish line being God’s kingdom and eternal life with Him in heaven.

 

The way to victory for us is the same as it was for those in the Hall of Fame of Faith.  The race is won by betting rid of “every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress”.  The danger we each face when running this race is giving into sin.  Every day we choose what we are going to look at, think, say and do.  We make conscious or unconscious decisions regarding sin all of the time.  I agree with Jimmy Swaggart’s comment that says we can only get rid of sin in our life by making, ”the cross the object of our faith, which gives the Holy Spirit latitude to work  within our lives.” (JSESB). In other words, we die to self and begin walking the narrow way to God’s kingdom.  We live as citizens in God’s kingdom rather than citizens of this world.  We get rid of everything that would hurt our growth and maturity to witness for Christ, all the time doing all we can to become like Him and fulfilling His purpose for our lives.  The Holy Spirit guides and directs us in this process.

 

This is an act of our will.  When we trust in God, unbelief (which causes us to walk in worldly ways and not trust God) begins to fade and we walk the narrow way in faith.  It is good to remember those mentioned in Hebrews 11, because their lives show us that placing our faith in God will strengthen us to face whatever trial or situation we are facing.  That is encouraging to me!  I pray you are encouraged as well!

 

From now on DJSB will be used to note information or quotes from the David Jeremiah Study Bible and LSSB will refer to information and quotes from the Life in the Spirit Study Bible.  I have added Jimmy Swaggart’s Expositor’s Study Bible to be referred to from now on as JSESB.