Running the Race- Hebrew 12

"...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, LOOKING TO JESUS, the founder and perfector of our faith, WHO FOR THE JOY THAT WAS SET BEFORE HIM ENDURED THE CROSS, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. CONSIDER HIM WHO ENDURED FROM SINNERS SUCH HOSTILITY AGAINST HIMSELF, SO THAT YOU DO NOT GROW WEARY OR FAINTHEARTED. In your struggle against sin YOU HAVE NOT YET RESISTED TO THE POINT OF SHEDDING YOUR BLOOD...."


Jesus was able to endure the cross because he looked ahead to the joy that was set before Him. He endured the wrath of God for sin that He did not commit, so that the very sinners who showed him such hostility could turn to Him for salvation, that they would not have to resist to the point of shedding their own blood. We have a high priest who sympathizes with us because He was tempted in every way we were, only without sin. He died for us so that we could have a relationship with God the Father, so that we can look forward to the joy that is set before us who are in Christ Jesus. We do not come to what may be touched, but to Mount Zion, "the city of the LIVING GOD! the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to JESUS, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel." this same Jesus who bore the wrath for our sins now sits enthroned at the right hand of God the Father and intercedes on our behalf! What wondrous love is this? To God and to the Lamb I will sing!
This is the hope that should drive us, the joy that we should look to as we walk through this life, as we face trials of various kinds. This is what God has been showing me today. As He spent the last 3 weeks, patiently, gently and lovingly disciplining me, drawing me out and making me aware of where I have misplaced my joy, my hope, my love. He is not satisfied with sharing my heart with idols. He wants all of it. Why should He not have it all? He paid the greatest price for it. God disciplines His children, the Lord disciplines the one He loves. He is jealous for our affections and rightly so. As He walked me to the altar to lay down my idols, I was reminded of Abraham as he walked to the altar to sacrifice his son. Abraham knew that God could raise Isaac from the dead in order to fulfill His promise to Abraham. He had faith that God could provide a lamb and God did. How big is my God? Can He not also provide for me all that I need or desire? Absolutely! He already has in the finished work of Christ!
Amazingly enough, as I laid down my idol, God provided a lamb. He did not take away from me but gave me a new perspective, a new hope, a greater hope. he revealed more of Himself and His power to me. He grew my faith and stretched me to the point where I thought I would break, but He brought healing and peace instead of pain. He is faithful even when we are faithless. His plans are not to harm us but to prosper us. We need only trust in Him. Follow Him. Seek Him and His kingdom.
My hearts cry is that this be my prayer, "One thing have I asked of You Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple.....You have said, 'Seek my face.' My heart says to You, Your face, Lord, do I seek." (Psalm 27) Let my soul delight in You, oh gracious and merciful God. Thank You for not allowing me to be satisfied with anything less.
Run the Race. Endure! "For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, BUT later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it". In the end, we are welcomed into a kingdom that cannot be shaken, so "let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire". AMEN