Hebrews 12

As Christians, we are not going where no one has gone before, but rather following in the footsteps of some great witnesses and can be encouraged by their examples. Verses 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, 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.”  In order to run this race effectively, we need to lay aside the ensnaring sins that trap us and bring us back into captivity, making us slaves once again. But not only do you need to lay sins aside, but also things that may not necessarily be sin, but will hinder your walk and ability to finish the race. I Corinthians 6:12, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” If there is something in your life that you cannot let go of, and are unable to deny your flesh, chances are that you are under its control. It is now an idol in your life, making it sin. If God asks you to give something up, you must obey or it is likely that you will be chastened for your disobedience. Think about the Jews complaining about manna and wanting quail so badly. You may just get what your flesh wants until it is coming out your nostrils, and the consequences will be no good for you.

Verses 3-4, “For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.” We are told to consider Jesus and the hostility He received, remembering that no matter how bad it gets, we have not had to resist to bloodshed in striving against sin. We haven't even had it as bad as those listed in the hall of faith, and certainly do not have it as bad as Christians in other countries. So why do we complain so much? Because our eyes are not on Him! Jesus was able to despise the shame and endure the cross because His eyes were on the bigger picture. We know from His prayer in the garden that it wasn't His will to be crucified, and He certainly did not run to the cross. Rather, He put Himself under subjection to His Father and His Father's will, and denied His own will. If we are not looking unto Jesus, and our eyes are focused on what's here and now, we will not finish this race and endure until the end.

Verses 5-8, “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; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.' If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.” Chastening helps keep us on track. Good parents chasten their children to teach them to do what is right. Unruly kids have parents who are self serving...they love themselves more. If you aren't being chastened by God, you are not his son or daughter and your wrath will eventually come. If you resist God's chastening then you will not learn from it and yield peaceable fruit from it, and will possibly repeat the same chastening. Verse 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.”  If you are continually stubborn and unteachable, bitterness will grow with an abundance of every evil present in your heart. Persistent stubbornness and unwillingness to yield good fruits will end in you being cut off completely as we are warned about in Romans 11. After all, God created us to bear good fruit, and has every right to expect that from us.

Verses 12-17, “Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 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; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 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.”  We need to strengthen our weak areas, walking with purpose and direction to our steps and letting God guide us, so that we finish the race. We need to pursue peace so that bitterness does not defile our thoughts and actions AND pursue holiness or righteousness, because we will not see the Lord without it. There are those who despise their calling to be a child of God. Like Esau, they are profane. They want to inherit all the blessings from God without any of the responsibilities of obedience to the Father. Even though they may have once walked in righteousness, they abandon their pursuit of holiness to pursue the things of the world under demonic influence and wisdom. Then they become bitter toward those who do obey, when they receive blessings from God. They may shed tears, but those tears are fake, because they do not desire to come to genuine repentance and also be blessed. God knows this, therefore, He will not receive them nor be fooled by those tears.

Verse 25, “See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven...”  When we consider what happened to those who rebelled at Mt. Sinai, how much worse will it be for those who reject God speaking from Mt. Zion? Obedience will follow those who have true faith in God. Whereas, those without faith will believe they can ignore God's commands, yet somehow still be saved from death. They believe and practice a lie, or a false religious way, because they mistake God's longsuffering for acceptance of their wickedness. The ONLY acceptable way to serve God, who by the way is a consuming fire, is with fear and respect! Verse 28, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.”