[Linux4christians] B7 Friday - Hebrews 12

Fri Apr 27 00:17:02 EDT 2012

    Friday

      Hebrews 12

The Lord's Discipline

12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of 
witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so 
closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us,

12:2 keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our 
faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding 
its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

12:3 Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by 
sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up.

12:4 You have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed in your 
struggle against sin.

12:5 And have you forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons?

"My son, do not scorn the Lord's discipline or give up when he corrects you.

12:6 "For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son 
he accepts."

12:7 Endure your suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. 
For what son is there that a father does not discipline?

12:8 But if you do not experience discipline, something all sons have 
shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons.

12:9 Besides, we have experienced discipline from our earthly fathers 
and we respected them; shall we not submit ourselves all the more to the 
Father of spirits and receive life?

12:10 For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, 
but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness.

12:11 Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful. But 
later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness for those trained 
by it.

12:12 Therefore, strengthen your listless hands and your weak knees, 
12:13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may 
not be put out of joint but be healed.

Do Not Reject God's Warning

12:14 Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, for without it no one 
will see the Lord.

12:15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God, that no one 
be like a bitter root springing up and causing trouble, and through him 
many become defiled.

12:16 And see to it that no one becomes an immoral or godless person 
like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.

12:17 For you know that later when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he 
was rejected, for he found no opportunity for repentance, although he 
sought the blessing with tears.

12:18 For you have not come to something that can be touched, to a 
burning fire and darkness and gloom and a whirlwind 12:19 and the blast 
of a trumpet and a voice uttering words such that those who heard begged 
to hear no more. 12:20 For they could not bear what was commanded: "If 
even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned." 12:21 In fact, 
the scene was so terrifying that Moses said, "I shudder with fear."

12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the 
heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the assembly 12:23 and 
congregation of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, 
the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous, who have been 
made perfect, 12:24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to 
the sprinkled blood that speaks of something better than Abel's does.

12:25 Take care not to refuse the one who is speaking! For if they did 
not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much 
less shall we, if we reject the one who warns from heaven? 12:26 Then 
his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "I will once more 
shake not only the earth but heaven too."

12:27 Now this phrase "once more" indicates the removal of what is 
shaken, that is, of created things, so that what is unshaken may remain.

12:28 So since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us give 
thanks, and through this let us offer worship pleasing to God in 
devotion and awe. 12:29 For our God is indeed a devouring fire.

      Prayer

Lord, Your discipline purifies, and all who are truly Yours will welcome 
Your purification -- no matter the cost. May I welcome learning and the 
transforming work of the Holy Spirit so that I will not require the 
harsher discipline of the Lord God as He purifies me.

      Summary & Commentary

The Lord God purifies "... we are surrounded by a great cloud of 
witnesses ... we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so 
closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, keeping our 
eyes fixed on Jesus"

We surrender the easy stuff but avoid the difficult "You have not yet 
resisted to the point of bloodshed in your struggle against sin. Endure 
your suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons."

"But if you do not experience discipline, something all sons have shared 
in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons."

[Note: It is often considered a test of our value to God that the enemy 
feels threatened enough to divert resource to attack us, but here it is 
the discipline of the Lord which defines us as His and therefore worthy 
of re-direction when we drift toward sin, though it is sometimes the 
case that the Lord will allow the enemy as a tool of His discipline of us.]

"Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, for without it no one will 
see the Lord."

[Note: This does not intend to promote pacifism in the face of a violent 
threat, it is about relationships and about our half of the 
relationship, we cannot control the actions of another - though we can 
model peace and not respond in-kind to those who are not acting in a 
peaceful manner. Also, the last phrase refers to us, that is that "no 
one will see the Lord" in us if we do not seek peace and holiness in our 
daily walk.]

"See that no one comes short of the grace of God, that no one be like a 
bitter root springing up and causing trouble, and through him many 
become defiled."

[Note: The NET translator's notes link this to Deut. 29:17 which refers 
to someone with a self-serving conditional relationship with God - which 
is not an acceptable relationship at all and will poison them and others 
around them.]

And see to it that no one becomes an immoral or godless person like 
Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For you have not 
come to something that can be touched [as in the Exodus 19:12-13 
experience of Moses on the mountain] ... But you have come to Mount Zion 
..."

[Note: The contrast here is between a law-based relationship and an 
intimate relationship, the first driven by fear-based obedience, the 
latter on love-based awe and obligation.]

"I will once more shake not only the earth but heaven too. Now this 
phrase "once more" indicates the removal of what is shaken, that is, of 
created things, so that what is unshaken will remain."

[Note: God, through Jesus, brings us into the "unshakable kingdom" of 
eternity with Him, He then will obliterate everything that was created 
and rendered sinful through the twin rebellions of the enemy and of Adam 
and Eve. Nothing will remain.]

"... let us give thanks, and through this let us offer worship pleasing 
to God in devotion and awe."

      Interaction

        Consider

The Lord God expects us to resist sin "... to the point of bloodshed", 
not the blood of others but our own. He also expects us to have an 
unconditional relationship with Him, for if we harbor selfish motives we 
will become bitter toward Him when discipline comes and will spread that 
bitterness.

        Discuss

What are some practical ways to "Pursue peace with everyone, and 
holiness, for without it no one will see the Lord."? Consider 
intentionally avoiding conflict by being vessels of His peace and 
intentionally combining a peaceful attitude with a holy walk so that 
people may see Christ in us and want what we have.

        Reflect

The Lord God will return to judge the world and to obliterate everything 
of earth and Heaven that is not part of His eternal perfect kingdom. 
This includes not only the physical world but also unsaved humans and 
the rebellious angels who followed the enemy.

        Share

When have you struggled to resist sin and lived-out the fruits of a good 
witness -- by seeking peace and holiness - for Christ?

      Faith in Action

        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to use you to draw someone nearer to a decision to 
surrender to Him and thus to share in the joy of your salvation.

        Action:

Today I am choosing to resist sin and to seek peace and holiness so that 
the fruits of a good witness for Christ will make it possible for the 
Holy Spirit to use me. I will share the results of this with at least 
one other believer so that they may be encouraged to do the same.

        Be Specific ______________________________________________________

    Saturday's text will be:

      Hebrews 13

-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
Have an Ultrafidian.com Day!
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1Cor. 15:22 "For just as in Adam all die,
so also in Christ all will be made alive."
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