Hebrews 10:36
For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
I cling willingly into His rest. That Sabbath rest that all who believe can rely on in the good times and in the bad. We will never totally, on this side of heaven, understand what God allows us to go through. but the truth…we are on a need to know basis. His ways are not ours and we know, but we know, that He turns things around for our good and the good of His Body of believers, the Church. God promises us that we will be able to overcome every obstacle meant to destroy our faith if we give it willingly to Him, the keeper of our souls. Carla
Hebrews 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. NKJV)
The cloud of witnesses refers to the people of faith mentioned in chapter 11. They are not actually spectators watching us; they are witnesses testifying to the truth of the faith (11:2, 4–6).
Looking here means “fixing one’s eyes trustingly.” We need to consistently focus on Christ instead of our own circumstances.
Christ has done everything necessary for us to endure in our faith. He is our example and model, for He focused on the joy that was set before Him. His attention was not on the agonies of the Cross, but on the crown; not on the suffering, but the reward. The NKJV Study Bible
Although Hebrews 11 included a long list of worthy exemplars, Jesus is ultimately the focus. In light of the footrace metaphor, the idea here might be that Jesus, who pioneered the course of the faith, awaits believers at the finish line. Prizes often were set before athletes to provide motivation (according to first-century Jewish historian Josephus, Antiquities 8:302). Jesus’ endurance of the cross provides the paradigm for believers (verses 1–7), who also will endure suffering and shame (10:32; 12:3). Faithlife Study Bible
Philippians 2:8–9
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
1 Corinthians 9:24
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.
Luke 24:26
Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?”
Hebrews 2:9–10
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through suffering
Reading accounts of war shake me. Everything we count on feels upside down.
And what happens when our own world is out of control? I can tell you from my experience that when I feel at the mercy of, I allow exhaustion or frustration or emotions on “tilt” to be the final word in my perception of reality.
But this is for real: when we perceive the world as dark, and yes, in places savage, we will believe (or take to heart) that selfishness and callousness and ruthlessness are required to survive in it.
And when that happens, we never see the good. Or the hope.
People stop trusting each other, and every stranger (or immigrant) becomes an enemy. Even people who know you become extremely careful about how they relate or speak. And amen to places (and persons) of sanctuary and dignity and compassion and healing in a world that feels dark.
Let us be those places for one another my friends.
This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine. Sabbath Moments
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