Comments on: NT for Lent 12 - Hebrews 12 http://www.signposts.org.au/2007/03/08/nt-for-lent-13-hebrews-13/ musings from those on the journey Fri, 2 Jan 2009 03:02:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: just_nigel http://www.signposts.org.au/2007/03/08/nt-for-lent-13-hebrews-13/#comment-158769 just_nigel Sun, 18 Mar 2007 22:01:33 +0000 http://www.signposts.org.au/2007/03/08/nt-for-lent-13-hebrews-13/#comment-158769 Favorite verses: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." I have come to appreciate the minisitry of the saints in a way that my slightly-puritan/low-church/protestant tradition has never celebrated. But the author of Hebrews is not even talking about the saints of the church here in the traditional sense. These "Witnesses" never lived on this earth post-Jesus so never saw his death and resurrection - yet they trusted God's way and his promises, so the point about their "faith" is made all the stronger. "Endure hardship as discipline" Unlike some people who say that if something bad happens God did it to them, I like this more suttle approach that recognises hardship as existing in this world so - in faith - is prepared to intepret even that hardship as a sign of God's love. I'm not sure if I am reading mroe into this than the authro intended but my apporach is if it has to be hard we may as well endure it as discipline and let even that help us be better schildren of God. "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably." - Thank you God. My I be less shaken and more obedient to you rule. Favorite verses: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

I have come to appreciate the minisitry of the saints in a way that my slightly-puritan/low-church/protestant tradition has never celebrated. But the author of Hebrews is not even talking about the saints of the church here in the traditional sense. These “Witnesses” never lived on this earth post-Jesus so never saw his death and resurrection - yet they trusted God’s way and his promises, so the point about their “faith” is made all the stronger.

“Endure hardship as discipline” Unlike some people who say that if something bad happens God did it to them, I like this more suttle approach that recognises hardship as existing in this world so - in faith - is prepared to intepret even that hardship as a sign of God’s love. I’m not sure if I am reading mroe into this than the authro intended but my apporach is if it has to be hard we may as well endure it as discipline and let even that help us be better schildren of God.

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably.” - Thank you God. My I be less shaken and more obedient to you rule.

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