By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented-- of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
THEREFORE we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. -Hebrews 11:30 - 12:2
So I read this passage a couple of days ago, and it hit me. The cloud of witnesses that we are surrounded by are all the people talked about in Hebrews 11! The real life people who were sawed in half, who were afflicted and tormented. The real life people who raised the dead, stopped mouths of lions, and prophesied to nations. These are the people watching us.
And yet I complain if it is too hot outside. Yet I feel persecuted if someone doesn't like me. If life gets too hard - I start to feel a little overwhelmed.
THESE PEOPLE WERE MARTYRS!! And they are watching me. But you know what? I don't think they are judging me. I think they are up there cheering me on. Saying "Come on Michelle. It's not worth it! Let go of the things that don't matter! Focus on eternity like we did!" Saying "Lay aside the weights and snares of the enemy. When you do, you will be free to run. The world may think you are crazy. Just keep running. Focus on eternity. Focus on the kingdom."
Kingdom - nothing else matters.
THEREFORE we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. -Hebrews 11:30 - 12:2
So I read this passage a couple of days ago, and it hit me. The cloud of witnesses that we are surrounded by are all the people talked about in Hebrews 11! The real life people who were sawed in half, who were afflicted and tormented. The real life people who raised the dead, stopped mouths of lions, and prophesied to nations. These are the people watching us.
And yet I complain if it is too hot outside. Yet I feel persecuted if someone doesn't like me. If life gets too hard - I start to feel a little overwhelmed.
THESE PEOPLE WERE MARTYRS!! And they are watching me. But you know what? I don't think they are judging me. I think they are up there cheering me on. Saying "Come on Michelle. It's not worth it! Let go of the things that don't matter! Focus on eternity like we did!" Saying "Lay aside the weights and snares of the enemy. When you do, you will be free to run. The world may think you are crazy. Just keep running. Focus on eternity. Focus on the kingdom."
Kingdom - nothing else matters.
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