Scripture
Hebrews 12:1-11
Let
us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the
pioneer and perfecter
of our faith. –Hebrews 12:1-2
Faith Is Endurance
12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud
of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so
closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 looking
to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy
that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has
taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such hostility
against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart. 4 In
your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding
your blood. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as
children —"My child, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, or
lose heart when you are punished by him; 6 for the Lord disciplines those whom
he loves, and chastises every child whom he accepts." 7 Endure trials for
the sake of discipline. God is treating you as children; for what child is
there whom a parent does not discipline? 8 If you do not have that discipline
in which all children share, then you are illegitimate and not his children. 9 Moreover,
we had human parents to discipline us, and we respected them. Should we not be
even more willing to be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they
disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but he disciplines us
for our good, in order that we may share his holiness. 11 Now, discipline
always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the
peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
The early Christians were tired. They had been running the
race of faith as though they had been running sprints in the heat of the day.
They were tired, their legs hurt, and whatever fancy energy gel packets they
carried were long gone. The people had earned the right to be tired. They'd
expected the return of Christ to happen quickly, but they had seen no proof that
anything was different in the world. A person can only keep giving 100 percent
when he or she believes that change is coming. This is something we understand.
Who would keep up with a weight-loss program that didn't show any results? Who
would pour one's whole self into a work project with no belief that the boss
would notice?
Here comes the coach saying, "Don't you even think
about quitting yet! This race matters!"
Our coach is clever. He doesn't start out telling us about
all the hard work we're going to have to put in. Instead, he gives us a great
reason to run the race at all: There are so many people watching! They're great
people! How much harder would a high school football player work if he knew
everyone in the stadium was an NFL Hall of Famer? The author of Hebrews wants
to inspire the same kind of passion and energy in us. The people watching us
are the ones that have already run the race well. The New Century Version
renders v. 1 this way: "We are surrounded by a great cloud of people whose
lives tell us what faith means." Of course, we want to do the very best
that we can with all these greats watching our journey.
WISDOM FROM THE COACH
The first piece of wisdom that our coach offers us is
"Lose the weight!" He's clear: whatever is holding us back has to go.
Of course, the coach's advice makes sense. That doesn't necessarily make it any
easier for us to get rid of what's holding us back. If we're going to run this
race well, then we're going to need to get rid of the guilt and
hardheartedness. We're going to have to let go of anything that isn't helping
us get to the finish line, including our sinful habits.
The next piece of wisdom the coach offers us we know well.
Every coach and motivational speaker we've met says, "Eyes on the
prize!" Before we even find out what the prize is, we know where our
attention is supposed to be. Any of us who have ever tried to walk (or do
anything else for that matter) while looking behind us can testify that so
doing is the quickest way to trip over our own feet. Coach reminds us that we
don't have the time to keep looking back.
What is the prize that we're working so hard to see? It's a
relationship with Jesus, lived out in faith. It's being like Jesus in all that
we do. There is something else worth noting here. The fact that we're looking
toward a goal means we're not just strolling along. We're not tourists. This is
serious business that necessitates a change in our frame of mind.
Jesus is not only the prize. Jesus is the one who teaches us
how to run the race. Here again, we realize how clever our coach is. Just as we
are about to begin serious whining, Coach sets the example of Christ before us.
If we are going to begin complaining about how hard our path is, then we need
to watch the films of Jesus' race. Instead of a gold medal, Jesus got a crown
of thorns. Jesus wasn't hailed; he was humiliated. Even though Jesus knew the
race would end that way, the knowledge didn't keep him from the journey.
"So," Coach says, "if Jesus can have that
much endurance, so must you."
The race metaphor works well to a point. We want to be like
Jesus. We want to do the things that please God. Yet a shadow can be cast over
our obedience when life becomes hard. When dark days come, we clench our fists
and question the heavens. "Why is it so hard?" we ask. If we don't
get the answer we want as quickly as we'd like, our cries turn to "My God,
my God, why have you forsaken me?"
COMFORTING WORDS
The writer of Hebrews has played the role of coach in the
first few verses, but his tone shifts in v. 5. After he has told us to quit
whining, he takes off his coach's hat. Now the writer pulls up a chair next to
us and addresses us as dear friends. The writer understands that we're tired
and discouraged. He knows we need a compassionate word and offers us one. It is
not, however, the word we expected.
"Endure trials for the sake of discipline." These
words give us a lens through which to view our suffering. The writer, as only a
dear friend could, wants to give us a constructive way to view our suffering:
What if we regard this discipline as coming from a father who loves us more than
anything else?
During biblical times, the father was the head of the household.
No matter how old or well respected the children grew to be, they were still
under the authority of the father. The original audience for these words in
Hebrews would have understood that when we are called "sons" it would
have meant that we are family.
Parents tangle with their children because they love them.
Parents correct their children because they don't want them to harm themselves
or others. God corrects us in this same spirit.
PERSEVERE
The word discipline has several meanings. On the one hand,
discipline is a way of correction. On the other hand, it is something that we
undertake voluntarily to make ourselves stronger, better, or more able.
Pianists play scales for hours a day. Athletes do sprints and climb hills.
God's discipline encompasses both meanings. God wants to teach us and better
us, so God corrects us. Through this correction, God encourages us to change.
Just like the serious musician, we seek the self-control that God intends. It
is with that in mind that the writer of Hebrews asks us to persevere.
We don't take this journey idly. We travel with all the
intensity and seriousness of a disciplined athlete, mindful of our coach's
encouragement and lessons. When we falter on the path, we have a loving parent
who will correct our focus until we can seek out the correct behavior on our
own. Every hardship and obstacle strengthens us and prepares to be made in the
image of Christ. In so doing, we draw close to God and faithfully live our
lives with endurance, being cheered on by those who have journeyed before us.
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
What does "We are surrounded by so great a cloud of
witnesses" mean to you?
Is being surrounded by a cloud of witnesses a source of
comfort and encouragement, or does it make you fearful?
Who have you judged to have "gone far from the
lord"? Were you mistaken?
PRAYER
Living God, author and perfecter of our faith, grant that we
may follow hard and fast after you. Teach us to follow your example and to look
to you for strength when we are ready to give up. Encourage us in your service,
and strengthen us through our worship together. Amen.
Compiled from The Present Word and Congregational Ministries Publishing is not liable for for the content of this Bible Study and Blog.
From The Present Word © 2011 Congregational Ministries Publishing. Used by permission.
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