Good Morning MBC. Our Scripture reading today is Hebrews 12.
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
The “cloud of witnesses” in chapter 11 is meant to be an encouragement to us to persevere in our faith. There are two critical keys mentioned that enable us to run the Christian race faithfully. The first is to get rid of anything in your life that spiritually hinders you. The second is to keep your eyes set on Jesus. We’ll never fail by doing these two things.
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Discipline is not the same thing as punishment. As Christians, we are not subject to punishment any longer. However, discipline is good for us, as God’s children, in order to make us holy. Discipline “trains” us so that we learn to bear the “fruit of righteousness” in our lives.
12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.
The discipline of the Lord that makes us holy is shown to be important here because, apart from a pursuit of holiness, we show ourselves to be unbelievers. God’s holy children flee from sin and seek repentance when they do sin, not like Esau who refused to repent of his sin. Esau, by his lack of repentance, showed himself to be an unbeliever.
18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
Here we have two mountains representing two covenants. The Old Covenant (Mt. Sinai) brought fear and an expectation of judgment. The New Covenant (Mt. Zion) brings life and joy through the mediation of Jesus on our behalf. The blood of Jesus doesn’t cry out for vengeance like Abel’s but brings forgiveness and atonement for sin.
25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
Churches are unfortunately never completely made up of true believers only. False believers in the church are known to God, and they will not escape judgment on the last day. True believers, though, are those who continue in faith and “offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe” with all of their life. Let’s make sure that’s us!
I hope you have a blessed day!
Pastor Tim
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