Devotion, Tuesday, 3-12-13

[Duke0002]

"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter 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.  For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart" (Heb. 12:1-3).

The Hebrew Christians were in terrible danger of falling away from their faith in Christ crucified and resurrected.  Life would have been so much easier for them not to have dealt with the Savior.  The heat of persecution and cares of this world were too much for some of them.

Are Christians any different today?  No.  Sadly, people believe for a while and then fall away from the faith for any number of reasons.  Perhaps their delusion is, "I can always repent tomorrow."   Perhaps they think to themselves, "When the time is right, I'll get serious."    Perhaps they think there are too many other things to do in life, "after all, church is just like a hobby anyway, right?  I'll go back to church and Jesus when I need a new hobby." 

The writer of the Book of Hebrews sets an urgent tone.  He saw the soul-destroying deception working in his readers lives.  How easily Christians can be bumped off course by the 100s of activities of life, which distract them from God's saving Word!

"You fool!"  God said to one who placed his earthly activities above his salvation and things eternal.   This very night your life will be demanded from you" ((Lk. 12:20).

Do you know that God won't hold His hand out to you forever?  St. Paul wrote, "I tell you, now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation"  (2 Cor. 6:2).  You don't know if He will speak His salvation to you tomorrow.  In fact, you don't even know if there will be a tomorrow.  If you brush Him aside today, how do you know you won't brush Him aside tomorrow?  Will it be possible to suddenly swear-off the addiction of brushing off God when you enter your 11th hour?

Run the race that is set in front of you, friend.  If you're going to brush off something, then brush off every encumbrance and every sin that entangles you in your race.  Look at what Jesus has done for you to secure your salvation.  Fix your eyes of faith on Him who endured the hostility that crucified Him. 

Jesus has removed everything that would keep you out of heaven.  Grasp your forgiveness and righteousness by faith today.  Use your faith to hold on to the cross of your salvation.  Scrape sin off of yourself.  It tangles and weighs you down.  It slowly kills you.  Fix your heart on Jesus, who has reconciled you to God.  In Him and Him alone, you can run the race without growing weary and losing heart.  If you do this, you'll cross the finish line and be in heaven. 

-Dale

[misfire]

Thanks Dale

[BOFF]

Thank you Dale!!

I like your writing here:

"Run the race that is set in front of you, friend.  If you're going to brush off something, then brush off every encumbrance and every sin that entangles you in your race.  Look at what Jesus has done for you to secure your salvation.  Fix your eyes of faith on Him who endured the hostility that crucified Him. 

Jesus has removed everything that would keep you out of heaven.  Grasp your forgiveness and righteousness by faith today.  Use your faith to hold on to the cross of your salvation.  Scrape sin off of yourself.  It tangles and weighs you down.  It slowly kills you.  Fix your heart on Jesus, who has reconciled you to God.  In Him and Him alone, you can run the race without growing weary and losing heart.  If you do this, you'll cross the finish line and be in heaven. "

We are guaranteed winning the race against sin, by having Jesus "on our team."


God Bless,
David B.[/font]

[Gut Pile]

Very good and very true..I thought I would live like hell until the rapture and then repent, be martyred and still "get in". Then I started to think, what if my live like hell lifestyle ended things pre rapture for me or what if I simply ran out of chances.....by Gods grace I am alive, really alive !!!!

[Roostem33]

Excellent devotion Dale, its so easy to fall into that trap of fading away. Thanks so much!!



Jody