Through the Bible - Ezekiel 13-17, Hebrews 12-13
Good morning,
I had several ways to go with this weekend's verse, but I decided to go with the first few verses in Hebrews 12, from The Message. The follow the description of the hope of all of those who have gone before us in the "Hall of Faith" and on through history. These verses encourage us to "take our post and stay", to follow in their footsteps of faith.
Heb 12:1-3 Do you see what this means — all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running — and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed — that exhilarating finish in and with God — he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!
or verses 1-2 from the NKJV
Heb 12:1-2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Are you ready to "get on with it", to not only run, but stay the course and finish the race, "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith",
It involves making that "legal decision" as mentioned yesterday in Isaiah 1:18. It's about deciding which road that we will travel. It's also about passing it on.
I hope that you've been following along in the read through the Bible plan, Old Testament, New Testament or both. The Bible is not an outdated book, it is relevant now as much as ever.
We should not listen to the reasonings, the "situational ethics" of the day. See what the prophet Ezekiel wrote, it is part of today's OT reading.
Ezek 13:17-19 "And the women prophets — son of man, take your stand against the women prophets who make up stuff out of their own minds. Oppose them. Say 'Doom' to the women who sew magic bracelets and head scarves to suit every taste, devices to trap souls. Say, 'Will you kill the souls of my people, use living souls to make yourselves rich and popular? You have profaned me among my people just to get ahead yourselves, used me to make yourselves look good — killing souls who should never have died and coddling souls who shouldn't live. You've lied to people who love listening to lies.'
How many people today would "profane" God just to get ahead? May it not be us. Take your post and stay, submit to God, follow Him, not the crowd.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Heb 12:1-18
The Race of Faith
12 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The Discipline of God(Prov 3:11,12)
3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
"My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens,And scourges every son whom He receives."
7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Renew Your Spiritual Vitality(Gen 25:29-34; 27:30-40)
12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.
No comments:
Post a Comment