Hebrews 12

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 trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

The immense group of witnesses is large enough to blot out the sky, not just a little, black raincloud.  And since that crowd is all around us, we need to set aside, cast away each individual opposing element and the whole of the opposition which will burden or encumber our course of life and the sin, the missing of the mark, the wandering from the path of uprightness and honor, the offense which so skillfully and besettingly wraps it tentacles around our physical, emotional, spiritual selves.  And, in steadfastness and constancy, allow ourselves to run, hasten, strive hard, spend our strength, take upon ourselves great risks which demand overwhelming sacrifice in order to overcome those struggles, contests, battles or trials as they are appointed or destined for us.

It is not just a race, not just a burden, not just a sin...it is whatever trips us up, distracts us, weighs us down from the goal of winning the race.  It is whatever causes us to undershoot or overlook the mark, to delay us from the pursuit of triumph, to miss holiness.  And it is life.  LIFE.


The witnesses, as the "Therefore" implies, are those that are referenced in the previous chapter.  But, consider that those witnesses to the life of faith are not the only witnesses of our lives, our races, our finishes.  What about those that tangibly surround us; our family, neighbors, co-workers, clerks, ... Those that see firsthand and often without any divine enlightenment or faith-filters how we endure the race, how we put off any besetting thing, how we avoid the snares and tangles of the world and the enemy.  How would they describe holy, if they only had me for example?  Would what I discard and desist be for their good?  Do my cultural interludes glorify God or the world...the enemy?


Some months ago, the Lord strongly directed my to lay down watching two of my favorites shows...as a matter of fact, they were the only shows that I watched that year.  When I understood what He asked, I had a choice - which was, only by His grace, an easy one. As I consider the content of the shows, and I shudder to think of how I promoted that by my attendance.  What the shows purported to be about often fell by the wayside as the subplots screamed perversion, unholy passions and just plain meanness, (and it was just regular T.V.). Sure, the music was great in the one and the crime-solving was interesting in the other; but when I mention the names of the shows, rarely were those attributes discussed.  

Whatever ensnares, entangles or threatens, Lord, help me to cast it off.  Please help me to be useful to help others cast off the same in their lives.  Help me to see Your holiness as the measure and purity as the goal that I may be a credible witness to a life of faith, as those who have gone before me are proving to be for me. Strengthen me, that I might have the tenacity for constancy and that my rebellious ways may be used to push away from sin.  I praise Your Faithful Name.   

Hebrews 11

...even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.

Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants AS THE STARS OF HEAVEN IN NUMBER, AND INNUMERABLE AS THE SAND WHICH IS BY THE SEASHORE.

He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.

The use of "even" struck me in this passage. It's as if the Divine Author penned the words to draw my attention to something beyond the improbability of these "events"; something past the surpassing impossibility of each. I mean, that God would say "even" this occurred. I know nothing is a stretch for the Undiminishable One; but that He would say "even" makes me wonder about what does He want to say "even" in my life? Where am I shortchanging His glorious plans for the comfort of my finite estate?

God, I know that You are completely trustworthy and I confess it is a bit difficult...okay, it is difficult to say that I want You to be able to say "even" me; but I do want Your "even" in my life. These folks lived through very challenging lives and circumstances, they had tremendous wait-on-God events; but You write of them as if they impressed You. I understand that they cooperated with the work You were doing and that You accomplished the miraculous in their lives; but they complied with You and waited on You and then they made the "even" list. They lived at capacity for Your plans for them...God, help me to live and love at capacity, for the glory of Your Name and the expanse of Your Kingdom.

Hebrews 10

And in accordance with this will [of God], we have been made holy (consecrated and sanctified) through the offering made once for all of the body of Jesus Christ (the Anointed One)...  For by a single offering He has forever completely cleansed and perfected those who are consecrated and made holy.

Why do I believe I am accepted in the Beloved but behave as though I must offer sacrifice?

 

This single offering has completely perfected those who were made holy, according to God's will.

When I am in a hurry, do I remember that I have been made holy and am perfected?  Why do I speed?  or fuss?  or fret?  

In the dailyness of my life, how do I demonstrate this cleansing and sanctification? How do my priorities reflect His work in my life? 

Jesus help me to live the live worthy of Your sacrifice.

Hebrews 9

Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, since they relate only to...regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation.

  But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle... through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.... how much more will the blood of Christ,..., cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?...but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself...so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. 

The prior arrangement for worshipers' sin was an external cleansing; but not a perfected conscience.  At the time of reformation, at the consummation of the ages (isn't God's story magnificent!), Christ Jesus was manifested, putting away sin by His own, very great and complete sacrifice.  Sin was subjugated so thoroughly which allows our consciences to be cleansed (as we respond to the invitation of the elect) which frees us to be noble servants of the Sovereign King of the Universe.   Jesus will come again, a second time for salvation...and this time He comes without reference to sin.  Sin will not be the issue for the heinous blight and spiritual toxin it had been was  profoundly and ultimately conquered and cured at the point of His all-sufficient sin-offering.

The timing in which I find myself in this majestic story is after the defeat of sin and before the return without reference to sin - I am in the time of service to the King.  

What does my service look like?  Service is action, not just a know-how.

I am not serving my King:   

                               if I only study about serving

                               if I become only a knowledgeable historian of His Kingdom

                               if I just agree that serving is good and important and necessary

                               if I am too busy doing things which are not of His Kingdom

                               if I apply myself to His service once or twice a week

                                              I MUST SERVE MY KING

                               I must know what He wants

                               I must conduct myself in the fashion which pleases Him

                               I must be willing to be appear foolish for obedience to His Name

                               I must trust that He knows best

                               I must be available, listening and willing to obey - be prepared

                               I must obey because regrets and apologies don't get my job done

                               I must believe that He is the King of All, King of my everything

Father King, give me eyes to see Kingdom ways, give me a heart to be a noble servant of the Most High God.  Help me to live in Kingdom freedom.  Please help me to not desire to be Your servant while taking time to party with the enemy.  My time is Yours, You attend my celebrations.  Cause me to remember that You are the Only King.  Help me to have the scope of vision for Your Kingdom.  Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, in my life as it is in Heaven.  So saturate my life that I would bear obviously the trademarks of Your Kingdom to those not of Kingdom-status.  Let my accent be of Your language, my dress reflect Your styles, my mannerisms demonstrate Your ways, my choices reveal Your holiness, my conduct becoming Your grace, my love like Yours and whatever else I don't know to ask for..., please, please continue Your transformation of me to that which brings honor, glory and fame to You, My Great King.

                               

Hebrews 8

 But this is the new covenant I will make
      with the people of Israel on that day, says the Lord:
   I will put my laws in their minds,
      and I will write them on their hearts.
   I will be their God,
      and they will be my people.

The original covenant was written on stone tablets, hard, immovable, fixed.  The new and better covenant is written on the hearts and put in the minds of the people.  Living people, not rocks.  

The result is the God will be their God and they will be His people.  Living people.  The New Covenant is about life and living, not a mere display.  It wells up within us and directs the flow of our thoughts and lives.  The purpose is to live the New Covenant.

Father, I know I knew this; but I thank You for drawing me to this truth and refreshing me with it.  You intend for me to live in the context of Your God-ness.  Your promises, Your faithfulness, Your purpose and Your love direct the law of life.  I thank You for breaking the shackles which held me in bondage to the statue of the law of sin and death.  I praise You for Your empowerment and direction to live that life - loving You with all of my heart, soul, strength and essence and for Your goodness to grow me in that love that I may love others as I do myself.  I also ask that You would help me to love myself rightly.  To the praise of Your Very Great Name and Love.

Hebrews 7

But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. 

Even though the offering was given, the one who had the promises was blessed by the greater one.  

I am the one, now who has the promises...grafted, accepted, redeemed, sanctified, justified, glorified...I have been blessed by the Greater One...indeed, the Greatest!

Now, the Spirit of the Greatest lives within me...who am I blessing?  How am I a faithful vessel for the Greatest to bless others and expand His Kingdom? 

Lord, I know that I am unable to even steward my awaking well; but You, through me, can.  I can bless no one; but You are greater and You do bless.  Please let me yield (by Your power, wisdom and discipline) to You that I may be useful for Your blessing others.  Only by Your precious grace am I one with promises.  I praise You for You keep Your promises.

 

 

Hebrews 6

...we who have fled [to Him] for refuge might have mighty indwelling strength and strong encouragement to grasp and hold fast the hope appointed for us and set before [us].    [Now] we have this [hope] as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whoever steps out upon it--a hope] that reaches farther and enters into [the very certainty of the Presence] within the veil,

The hope is to be grasped and clung to; it was appointed for us to have the hope and that hope is an anchor of our souls.  He encourages me with strong words and support and indwells me in power to hold fast the hope He made me for.  That hope is to be held for dear life as it is an anchor of my very soul.  

An anchor is a tool used to stop the movement and stay the drift of a boat.  To keep the boat in one spot.  It roots us...for a purpose. 


Am I rooted or slowly drifting?  If the anchor is not securely placed, the boat will follow the current and end up in trouble.  How am I ensuring there is no current drift happening in my life?   How tightly am I clinging to the Anchor of my Soul?

 When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God’s blessing.  But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it.
  
The fruitful field is  called blessed.  The land which is named useless, which means that which does not prove itself such as it ought or not standing the test, is close to being cursed and burnt.  The produce of the field will be destroyed...the thorns and thistles will be consumed.  But after the fire, it is still the farmer's field.  It is not a parking lot nor a strip mall.  It is still a field - albeit a scorched and reduced field.  This reminds me of the wildfires which have burned many forests and fields in our area to the ground.  As we drive by them a few months later, I am always surprised and blessed to see the new life coming from the ashes.

As I considered the difficult-for-me to understand passages which preceded this verse, I am encouraged by this example the Holy Spirit gives, almost in punctuation of the prior words.