# 21 2020 Dev. Hebrews 12. Be a Witness! Read all of Ch.12. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.
Heb. 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.”
The author of Hebrews point back to the “great cloud of witnesses” in chapter 11, as a way of encouraging his readers and also to encourage us. In many ways he begins with what appears to be confession of faith and a way to live out our faith as followers of Jesus.
After that introduction he moves on to the difficult subject of God disciplining his children. The author quotes Pr. 3:11,12 that tells us that a father disciplines the son he loves. There must have been persecution during this time and the author encourages them and us by asking for perseverance, “God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness.” Is that what is happening to us right now, will we come out stronger by the closure of our churches, will we come out of this as better people, will this “produce a harvest of righteousness”? Yes! We trust God for that.
Next he moves to the fifth warning in the book. “Live in peace with all men” (everyone), “be holy”, no sexual immorality, don’t compromise, we have not come to a mountain we cannot touch or hear commands that we cannot obey, no! “But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven.” That refers to us, the followers of Jesus, the church on earth and the church in heaven. What we are experiencing right now is temporary and will pass, remember that all of life is preparation for our service above. “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” Now is the time to live our faith in the face of all those around us, including our families and all who follow Jesus. Thanks be to God, he has called us to witness to His Grace, amen!
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Heavenhigh 