Hebrews 12:1-13
Q.1. What assistance are believers given in living for Christ? What makes the journey so difficult? How can Christ’s example inspire us to endure? (Heb.12:1-4)
We have a great cloud of witnesses who have graduated to Heaven. The ones highlighted by the writer in chapter 11 were just a tiny few of the hosts. Their lives should encourage us to endure during the tough times. The journey will inevitably include many tests that we must face. Our principle help comes from the Saviour Himself – 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Heb.12:2-3). The saints mentioned previously had endured, because the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with our present trials. Jesus was thinking of us and the state of helplessness in which we would be without His intervention when He endured the shame of the cross. He actually had to shed His blood in order to pay for our sin. In this He stands alone (Heb.12:4). The example of Christ is powerful. As well, His ongoing high priestly role on our behalf helps us to find acceptance before a holy God, despite our failures and sins.
Q.2. How should the discipline of the Lord impact us? Is God’s over-arching purpose in chastening His children always best? – (Heb.12:5-13)
We learn from Proverbs (3:11-12) and the story of Job, that God restrains the hand of Satan. He cares for us, His children. In fact, the absence of discipline would be an evidence of no relationship i.e. we do not normally discipline those who are not our children (Heb.12:8). The writer also contrasted the very imperfect discipline of our earthly fathers with the perfect and beneficial discipline of our heavenly Father. What is God trying to achieve? – 10 … He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. 11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness (Heb.12:1-11). God’s discipline always has our best eternal interests at heart.