THEREFORE
Whenever a scripture verse starts out with "therefore" we have to read back a little and see why it is saying "because of, for that reason, since..."
Hebrews 12:1-2 starts off "THEREFORE THEN..."
I really like The Message translation:
"Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!"
We have to go back to Hebrews 11 for a minute as we process Hebrews 12. The "FAITH" Hall of Fame in Hebrews 11 and not only those listed there in the Word but all who have been there before us, running and completing the race we are now in the midst of, these are the very ones pushing for us, urging us in the spirit to continue on, to fight the good fight all the way through to completion.
In order to do this, in order to reach that finish line the crowd of witnesses is lined up on the roads of our race cheering us on (picture a marathon and all the spectators encouraging and cheering for even those they don't know) that's what is going on with the crowd of witnesses, they want to see each one of us make it and having been where we are they know what it will take.
It will take a stripping down, a tearing off of everything that make weigh us down, slow us down, suck all of our energy out so we can't finish our personal races in the Lord. Strip off the worry, strip off the concerns of life, strip of unforgiveness, strip off distraction, strip of slumber, strip off unbelief, strip off doubt, strip off guilt, strip off every lying, condemning word of the enemy. Yank it off like a runner who knows he needs to get down to the bare minimum to be able to finish a race. Yank off everything that could cause you to cramp up spiritually, to go slower than you have potential in the spirit.
Everything that is not of God that we are carrying needs to go so it doesn't weigh us down in our run of steady continuance on the APPOINTED COURSE we have been placed on. When a runner is in a 5k or a 1/2 marathon or even a full marathon. There is a course they follow, there is direction given, signs placed before them where to turn, what road to be on. There is refreshment and encouragement on the way. Many start out with two layers of clothing but by time they finish they may only have thin shorts and their running shoes. One thing that never comes off is the running shoes and for us I believe that is our faith! OUR FAITH CARRIES US THROUGH THE APPOINTED COURSE and brings us across the finish line of purpose and destiny.
We can do this! We look to Jesus and all He walked through, He is our source of strength and faith, we remember there others standing on the sidelines cheering us on in encouragement knowing we can do all we've been called to do on our APPOINTED COURSE.
LET'S FINISH THIS RACE STRONGER THAN WE BEGAN IT BRINGING GLORY AND TESTIMONY TO THE GOODNESS AND FAITHFULNESS OF GOD!
Hebrews 12:1-2 starts off "THEREFORE THEN..."
I really like The Message translation:
"Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!"
We have to go back to Hebrews 11 for a minute as we process Hebrews 12. The "FAITH" Hall of Fame in Hebrews 11 and not only those listed there in the Word but all who have been there before us, running and completing the race we are now in the midst of, these are the very ones pushing for us, urging us in the spirit to continue on, to fight the good fight all the way through to completion.
In order to do this, in order to reach that finish line the crowd of witnesses is lined up on the roads of our race cheering us on (picture a marathon and all the spectators encouraging and cheering for even those they don't know) that's what is going on with the crowd of witnesses, they want to see each one of us make it and having been where we are they know what it will take.
It will take a stripping down, a tearing off of everything that make weigh us down, slow us down, suck all of our energy out so we can't finish our personal races in the Lord. Strip off the worry, strip off the concerns of life, strip of unforgiveness, strip off distraction, strip of slumber, strip off unbelief, strip off doubt, strip off guilt, strip off every lying, condemning word of the enemy. Yank it off like a runner who knows he needs to get down to the bare minimum to be able to finish a race. Yank off everything that could cause you to cramp up spiritually, to go slower than you have potential in the spirit.
Everything that is not of God that we are carrying needs to go so it doesn't weigh us down in our run of steady continuance on the APPOINTED COURSE we have been placed on. When a runner is in a 5k or a 1/2 marathon or even a full marathon. There is a course they follow, there is direction given, signs placed before them where to turn, what road to be on. There is refreshment and encouragement on the way. Many start out with two layers of clothing but by time they finish they may only have thin shorts and their running shoes. One thing that never comes off is the running shoes and for us I believe that is our faith! OUR FAITH CARRIES US THROUGH THE APPOINTED COURSE and brings us across the finish line of purpose and destiny.
We can do this! We look to Jesus and all He walked through, He is our source of strength and faith, we remember there others standing on the sidelines cheering us on in encouragement knowing we can do all we've been called to do on our APPOINTED COURSE.
LET'S FINISH THIS RACE STRONGER THAN WE BEGAN IT BRINGING GLORY AND TESTIMONY TO THE GOODNESS AND FAITHFULNESS OF GOD!
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