Hebrews 12
February Memory Verse: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
Read: Hebrews 12
Chapter 12 is an incredibly encouraging chapter for those of us who are fighting against sin in our lives—which should be every Christian! The author implores us to “lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…” He basically gives two reasons for this: we are able to fight sin because of the finished work of Christ on the cross (v. 2), but also because of the example of the fallen but faithful people we saw in Hebrews 11. If they could do it, so can we.
Have you ever felt tired spiritually, wondering if all of the effort to be holy, godly, pure, etc. is worth it, when sin seems to be so easy and desirable at times? It is easy to think and feel this way when we are more focused on ourselves than on God. Verse 3 of our passage shows us that one of the outcomes of the gospel is that we “may not grow weary or fainthearted.”
If you have grown weary in your fight against sin, thinking that you are spent and cannot resist the allurement of sin anymore, fight to believe this verse more than your feelings: “In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” (v. 4) If we expect growing and changing as a Christian to be quick and easy, we need to seriously recalibrate our expectations of the Christian life. I often say in discipleship and counseling that sanctification is much more like a crockpot than a microwave—growth and change in Christ takes time; it is not instantaneous.
Verses 5-11 offer a good reminder that the pain of fighting sin and the discipline of God is actually for our good. Our culture wants us to believe that love is the absence of pain/disagreement/discipline. But the discipline of God is for our good. It is part of his plan for our holiness.
Are there areas of your life that have been slipping in your fight against sin? Look to Jesus, who gives you power in the gospel and the Holy Spirit to see victory over sin and death.
Are you experiencing the discipline of God? Believe that this is a sign of God’s love and care for you as he makes you holy like himself.
In the comments, share how God spoke to you through Hebrews 12.
By: Graham Withers
Read: Hebrews 12
Chapter 12 is an incredibly encouraging chapter for those of us who are fighting against sin in our lives—which should be every Christian! The author implores us to “lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…” He basically gives two reasons for this: we are able to fight sin because of the finished work of Christ on the cross (v. 2), but also because of the example of the fallen but faithful people we saw in Hebrews 11. If they could do it, so can we.
Have you ever felt tired spiritually, wondering if all of the effort to be holy, godly, pure, etc. is worth it, when sin seems to be so easy and desirable at times? It is easy to think and feel this way when we are more focused on ourselves than on God. Verse 3 of our passage shows us that one of the outcomes of the gospel is that we “may not grow weary or fainthearted.”
If you have grown weary in your fight against sin, thinking that you are spent and cannot resist the allurement of sin anymore, fight to believe this verse more than your feelings: “In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” (v. 4) If we expect growing and changing as a Christian to be quick and easy, we need to seriously recalibrate our expectations of the Christian life. I often say in discipleship and counseling that sanctification is much more like a crockpot than a microwave—growth and change in Christ takes time; it is not instantaneous.
Verses 5-11 offer a good reminder that the pain of fighting sin and the discipline of God is actually for our good. Our culture wants us to believe that love is the absence of pain/disagreement/discipline. But the discipline of God is for our good. It is part of his plan for our holiness.
Are there areas of your life that have been slipping in your fight against sin? Look to Jesus, who gives you power in the gospel and the Holy Spirit to see victory over sin and death.
Are you experiencing the discipline of God? Believe that this is a sign of God’s love and care for you as he makes you holy like himself.
In the comments, share how God spoke to you through Hebrews 12.
By: Graham Withers
20 Comments
I encouraged by this chapter and your devotion graham. Things that stand out to me:
Endurance-like running a marathon. Some of my sinful habits were removed at the point of salvation. Others I still struggle with 15 years into my walk. We live in a generation today where everything is a quick fix. We must continue to persevere and not grow weary. Never quit trying!!!
Discipline-many have come to the point where they no longer discipline their kids and portray God’s discipline as serving an angry God. But this discipline does indeed yield the peaceful fruit of righteousness by those who have been trained in it. This chapter proves that God disciplines those he loves and that is key to a correct view of God’s love for us!
Important distinction!
(Hebrews 11) If they could do it, so can we.
This is such an encouraging word Graham. I used to look at Biblical characters like Abraham, Moses, King David, Peter, & Paul as super heroes who possessed something I didn’t. I certainly don’t mean to discount their significance and how they allowed God to use them in powerful ways, but these were flawed sinful men just like me. Peter was impulsive and often made boastful claims he couldn’t back up but God saw his heart and used him to reach lost people. If you ever think you are so flawed that God can’t use you for kingdom work, that’s simply a lie from the father of lies, satan. The man who recognizes his flaws, repents of sin, and prays for God to use him will become a powerful tool for the Gospel. I am grateful that God uses goofballs & mess-ups like me to accomplish His work on Earth.
Good word Mike!
I notice the two mountains. Mt. Sinai, verses 18-21, marked a place where the Law was given. It is amazing to read of the blazing fire, darkness, whirlwind, fear and trembling -- a powerful display. But we have a greater Mt. Zion to abide under: there we find repentance, forgiveness, peace, the church, a comforting Savior, a living and loving Father, a victorious mediator Jesus Christ.
Set course for Mt. Zion. Make haste in your journey.
The symbolism of hearing God from Mount Zion where we find forgiveness is far preferable to the experience of Israel on Mount Sanai:
"22 No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. 23 You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. 24 You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel."
I love that!
Such a good word Graham! Thank you!
This is a hard passage for me to read sometimes. I do not like being disciplined as it is associated with feelings of shame. It is such a good reminder that God is holy and desires for me to be holy like Him. As much as I want God to only allow good and pleasing things in my life, it is a good reminder that he loves me too much to allow me to live as the world does. And as believers we do not approach God and His mountain of judgement, but because of Jesus we approach with praise and rejoicing bc we are righteous in Him.
Those are hard, but important, feelings to distinguish between!
This chapter is so encouraging! It’s a great reminder that the hard things in our lives are not necessarily a sign that God does not love us, but rather they are meant for our good and are an opportunity for Him to be glorified in us. If we are alive enough to read this chapter, then we haven’t yet been asked to give our life-blood for Him like He did for us. So why would we say our hard things are too much for us, when they’re far less than the hard things He endured? Especially when our lives are supposed to be lived with HIS strength and not our own anyway.
That's good Naomi!
Many insightful comments today. I too was impressed by the Mount Zion and Mount Sinai analogy...so very powerful and illustrative.
I am struck by how important it is to live by faith and not be feelings. While feelings can be manipulated, are unreliable and fleeting, faith is untouchable by not only the tangible world but the spiritual realm as well (Romans 8:38-39).
Great post, Graham. Crockpot, not microwave. Love it. Although sometimes I feel more like I'm being nuked, lol.
I loved the chapter this week! It reminded me of what Tim talked about a couple weeks ago when we were studying Ephesians Chapter 2. Before knowing Christ we were dead and now that we have the gift of salvation through Jesus, we seem to throw it away everyday. Time after time I take my sin so lightly, not confessing, not realizing what I need to put to death. It reminded me of all the sinful things Colossians 3 tells us to put to death. I remind myself that since I am alive in Christ, these past sins shouldn't take over my life anymore. Thank you for the encouragement this morning to not run to sin, because running to Jesus is so much sweeter.
Awesome Tabor!
This is really good for all of us to hear. I know that sin has been a struggle in my life, and there have been so many times that my prayers for God to change that just weren't being heard. That was probably my own fault, because I would just let myself go right back to the sin I was praying for God to take. It was almost like I didn't believe that God could take whatever sin I was struggling with from me (insert "faith like a mustard seed" comment here). I'm thankful that you pointed out that sanctification isn't an overnight process, but a life long process where God will take us and mold us over time. If it were easy, we wouldn't appreciate the saving work of Jesus that allows our sanctification. Since it is a process, I believe it allows God to teach us lessons and grow us over time so that we can become more like Him. Grateful for God and his all-knowing and all-powerful ways being so much better than ours.
That's good Scottie!
Realize I am a day late on this comment, but Graham. This passage blew my mind last night and I woke up thinking of it this morning.
For years the first half of the chapter has been my mainstay and comfort in trial, but yesterday the second half hit me right between the eyes.
Holiness. Selling our birthright. What is my bowl of soup?
If Esau was unholy, what does that look like in modern day America with all its distractions?
God is still a consuming fire, but there is precious little reverence and awe these days. What does it look like for us, for me, here and now?
Good stuff, Graham.
Good reflective questions!
Thank you for the reminder about sanctification being a crockpot. It reminds me of athletic training to, I so easily get frustrated that progress is taking so long, remembering that I will not become an expert overnight. And the same way, I will not become holy overnight, it takes time to be sanctified and also discipline from the Lord. Praise God