June 4 – Learning From Witnesses

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race…” – Hebrews 12:1 (ESV) 

 The word “therefore” is frequent in the Bible. When we come across it we find out what it is there for. This time it bridges a transition between Chapters 11 & 12 of Hebrews where is a list of deceased people whose lives witnessed the value and blessing of living by faith. The author of Hebrews is giving us reassurance that is drawn from the saints in the past who faithfully believed in the LORD God. We are encouraged to rid ourselves of sin because sin entangles us and inhibits our ability to live with endurance. We are all on a path that is a race of sorts, not against each other but against the wickedness of Satan who is set on causing us to stumble and fall and fail to reach our goal. The Apostle Paul (Philippians 3:13-14) explains this, and like him, we have a goal that we are straining forward to reach. A life pleasing to God. Therefore we are pressing on toward the goal God has set before us. Sin entangles us and misdirects us and causes us to miss out on the prize of blessings God has set for us.

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October 29 – Surrounded by Examples

“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,” Hebrews 12:1 (ESV)

Context of our verse is important.  It follows chapter eleven where the author identified by name seventeen Old Testament believers and references many more who were also saved by faith in the word of God. These examples are witnesses to us of the truth. God has given this to us in the promises He gives to us. It is worthy to believe in God and in his promises to us. Yet, we face an enemy who works to distract us by loading us down with lies so that we forget those promises. The verse we have today tells us how to overcome this attack. Trust in the example of the witnesses who before Jesus Christ was born, lived, died and rose from the grave, believed in that promise to come and were saved and through faith declared righteous by God. By faith, we too can lay aside the sin which binds itself to us and weighs us down. Let’s get rid of that baggage, lay it aside, and we will have freedom to run the race with endure to the end. This is all accomplished by the grace of God alone – we have but to believe.

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August 19 – Out of Darkness and Into Light

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)

The Apostle Peter's first letter was sent to those who had believed in Christ and were living in the area called Anatolia Asia Minor which is mostly in modern day Turkey. He wanted to remind them what a great privilege they had. By His mercy God established a people for His possession, a people to call His own.  God has been merciful to all of us just as He was to the people whom Peter was writing. Whatever our personal background we must all admit that without the love of God we would never come to see the true light. We were living in a darkness but by believing in Jesus we have seen a great light and we are now a people belonging to God with all the abundant blessings. We no longer are bound to the darkness that binds those of this world but we have been called to be in His marvelous light. Our response is that we praise Him as we continue to learn through what His light reveals to us, each day. Let us declare his praises and proclaim the excellencies He reveals to us today.

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July 16 – Special, Chosen, Purchased

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”   1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)

Do you consider yourself to be a member of a special people?  If you have believed and received the Lord Jesus as your Savior, you are one of God's chosen race.  Not by human race or ethnic origin.  Not by status or family you are born into.  But by the grace and mercy of God, each of us are part of a very special people of God's making.  It is a people made out of all races, ethnicities, colors, without regard to status or lineage or family tree.  The King James version uses the phrase “But ye are...a peculiar people...”  This may sound peculiar but the word “peculiar” in the KJV does not mean “a strange people.”  It means we are “purchased” and that means we are a people owned by God Himself - we belong to Him.  How do we become a member of this special people?  By faith believing and responding to His call.  We are called out of darkness of the world to live in His light – His marvelous light.  Our promise is that Jesus paid the price and we are redeemed and called by Him to proclaim to the world what the Christ Jesus has done.  

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