November 14th

November 14th

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won't become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin. (‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭1-4‬ NLT)

Taken from Merriam-Webster dictionary:
Full definition of THEREFORE
1 a : for that reason: consequently
b : because of that
c : on that ground
2 : to that end

Whenever we see the word Therefore, it means that what I am about to say is going to sum up, or re-enforce what was just said. It is the big reveal. In this case, the writer is saying "hey, what I am about to tell you is important, as important as what I just told you." In this case, that is a BIG DEAL! As Steve pointed out yesterday, the passage before this is all about the people who were the pillars of faith in the Old Testament. He called it the "Hall of Faith." What I believe that the writer of Hebrews is trying to get at here is this: here are all of the "super-faith" people, but with endurance and the leaving behind of sin, we can be just as big in the world of faith as they are. He is saying that I can be just as big of a deal as Daniel, Moses, or Enoch. That is a big deal. But it takes sacrifice, it takes endurance, and it takes letting go of the sin that so easily entangles. And it takes faith. Faith in a God that has proven faithful. We a children of promise. All of us. We all go back to Abraham. God promised to make him the father of many nations, and through Christ, that right to childhood was opened to us all. We have the power inside of us, through Christ, to be the next Jonathan Edwards, Billy Graham, DL Moody, or Fanny Crosby! We are writing history in our living, let's write a history of people of faith!

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