Endure
Trials
For The Sake Of Discipline
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so
closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is before us, looking
to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who
for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding
its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from
sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart. In your struggle against
sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have
forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as children - "My child, do
not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, or lose heart when you are
punished by him; for the Lord disciplines those whom he loves, and chastises
every child whom he accepts."
Endure trials for the sake of discipline. God is treating you as
children; for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline? If you do not have that discipline in which all children share,
then you are illegitimate and not his children. Moreover, we had human
parents to discipline us, and we respected them. Should we not be even more
willing to be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined
us for a short time as seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good,
in order that we may share his holiness. Now, discipline always seems painful
rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of
righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,
and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out
of joint, but rather be healed.
Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one
will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that
no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and through it many become
defiled. See to it that no one becomes like Esau, an immoral and godless
person, who sold his birthright for a single meal.
Hebrews 12:1-16
Who is not inspired by the competitor who makes a comeback after
being down and seemingly out of the running? The runner who stumbles while
coming off the starting blocks but moves gradually into the lead stirs the
imagination of us all. The team that can come from behind in the last moments
to win excites us even more than the team that constantly wins by scoring big
in the first part of the game.
Jesus made the most amazing comeback the world has ever seen. After
being humiliated, insulted, spit on, whipped, beaten, and nailed to a cross,
His executioners claimed victory and declared Him dead. How could anyone be
more down and out than that?
Yet the struggle was not over; it was only the beginning. Three
days later, He rose from the grave and reappeared as the victor over sin,
death, and hell - a comeback like none other in all of history.
Think about the resurrection of Jesus.
Ask Him to give you the victory.
Jesus died to save us
and lives to keep us.
Our Daily Bread -