All these were approved through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us.
Hebrews 11:39-40
Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,
Hebrews 12:1
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,
Matthew 28:19
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations
- Run
- With endurance
- Lay aside the sin that so easily ensnares us
- We do this together
- Knowing who’s watching makes all the difference
Keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, so that you won’t grow weary and give up. In struggling against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
Hebrews 12:2-4
Keeping our eyes on Jesus
- Jesus is the source of our faith
- Jesus is the perfecter of our faith
- Seeing the joy in front of Him, Jesus endured the cross
- Jesus despised the shame
- Jesus is currently sitting at the right hand of God’s throne
- Jesus resisted sin to the point of shedding His blood
For consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, so that you won’t grow weary and give up.
Hebrews 12:3
And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons:
My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly
or lose heart when you are reproved by him,
for the Lord disciplines the one he loves
and punishes every son he receives.
Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline—which all receive—then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had human fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn’t we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but he does it for our benefit, so that we can share his holiness. No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Hebrews 12:5-11
God’s discipline
- We shouldn’t take it lightly
- It happens to every believer
- It usually hurts
- It’s for our benefit
Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
James 1:2-3
But have nothing to do with pointless and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness. For the training of the body has limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
1 Timothy 4:7-8
You may never know that Jesus is all you need, until Jesus is all you have.
-Corrie ten Boom
Therefore, strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed instead.
Hebrews 12:12-13
