I love this verse!!!
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. (1)
I love how the Orthodox churches have this as a part of their churches. That reminder that we do have the cloud of witnesses.
I also really like verse 14: Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.
Sometimes it's a lot of work to live at peace with people.
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.
ReplyDeleteThe imagery and tie-ins to the Old Testament story are just amazing.
Hebrews 12
ReplyDelete3 Consider the life of the One who endured such personal attacks and hostility from sinners so that you will not grow weary or lose heart.