Day 2276 – Hebrews-21 – Endurance and Discipline in our Faith Walk – Daily Wisdom

Welcome to Day 2276 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me.
This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom
Hebrews-21 Endurance and Discipline in our Faith Walk – Daily Wisdom
Putnam Church Message – 09/24/2023

Endurance and Discipline in our Faith Walk - Hebrews 12:1-13

We continue our extended series through the book of Hebrews in the New Testament. Last week, we explored the Triumphs and Tragedies of the Faithful. This week, we will extend our focus to a long-term life of faith, which will require Endurance and Discipline.

Let’s read Hebrews 12:1-13 on page 1877 of your Pew Bible.

God’s Discipline Proves His Love.

1 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, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”[a]

7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 “Make level paths for your feet,”[b] so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

 

More than ever, we need to be reminded that when we enter the Christian life through faith, we don’t enter a playground but a battleground. That underlying principle runs throughout Hebrews and especially finds its clear expression in...

Welcome to Day 2276 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me.
This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom
Hebrews-21 Endurance and Discipline in our Faith Walk – Daily Wisdom
Putnam Church Message – 09/24/2023

Endurance and Discipline in our Faith Walk - Hebrews 12:1-13

We continue our extended series through the book of Hebrews in the New Testament. Last week, we explored the Triumphs and Tragedies of the Faithful. This week, we will extend our focus to a long-term life of faith, which will require Endurance and Discipline.

Let’s read Hebrews 12:1-13 on page 1877 of your Pew Bible.

God’s Discipline Proves His Love.

1 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, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”[a]

7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 “Make level paths for your feet,”[b] so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

 

More than ever, we need to be reminded that when we enter the Christian life through faith, we don’t enter a playground but a battleground. That underlying principle runs throughout Hebrews and especially finds its clear expression in chapter 12. When we enter into a relationship with Christ and are initiated into His body, the church, we’re thrust onto a spiritual battlefield. Yes, we’re always shielded and armed with forgiveness through the blood of Christ, eternal security guaranteed by the will of the Father, and the power to live a new life by the Holy Spirit. These things can never be snatched away from us. However, these are provisions for the battle, not means of excusing us from the battle.

The book of Hebrews was written to men and women in the thick of the battle against the flesh, the world, and the spiritual forces of evil. Some of them were trembling in their boots. Others had retreated to the trenches. Some were tempted to turn tail and run. Already, the author has warned his audience of the cost of defection amid the battle. He urges them toward a life of enduring hope that responds positively to God’s hand of loving discipline with maturity. He wants them to lean on Christ, who is superior for pressing on in the faith. He doesn’t want them to be “flash in the pan” Christians.

 

A “flash in the pan” is someone who starts something with a lot of noise and flurry but soon fades and passes off the scene. They are quick to begin, enthusiastic, have big ideas, loud talk, and heated emotions. But when the going gets tough, they drop through the cracks. They have no staying power. They lack the virtue of endurance. And they crumble under discipline.

 

Authentic Christian faith should lead to a Christian life of enduring hope. Such hope pushes through the hardships of this fallen world. It also perseveres through the persecutions of a godless world. But even more importantly, it responds positively to the fatherly discipline of a loving God during the journey through this imperfect world. Hebrews 11 painted a brilliant picture of men and women of authentic faith who endured hardship, persevered through persecutions, and responded well to God’s discipline. Hebrews 12 focuses on us believers, answering the question, In light of these examples of heroic faith, how should we live our own lives?

In Hebrews 12:1–13, the author explains how we can live lives of faithful endurance even when there is no applause, tangible trophy, or apparent relief from pressure. Even when we face hardship and hostility and the ever-present reality of trials and temptations, we can embrace hope to grow closer to God without growing weary. In the course of this exhortation to hope, the author deals with the uncomfortable reality of God’s discipline, which provokes us toward greater faith, hope, and love, giving us a glimpse of God’s purpose in allowing pain and suffering in this life.

 

Hebrews 11 is a roll call of great men and women of faith who had fought with faith in the spiritual battles of this fallen world. Not all were decorated for their victories. Many suffered and died amid the struggle. And none of them saw the conflict to the end, with the destruction of sin, death, unseen evil spiritual forces, and the establishment of the everlasting kingdom of Christ. All of them, however, stand as permanent testimonies to the fact that the life of faith pays off. Because they endured in faith-driven hope, we can, too.

 

The practical point of Hebrews 11 is that all these saints of old were born and raised in imperfection, lived lives as sinners saved by grace, and persevered through hardship with faith and hope. As mortal humans, they were no better than you and I. Therefore, we can have enduring hope to climb from the trenches,/ listen to the Commander’s voice, /and soldier on.

 

Now, most of us can’t relate to the battlefield metaphor. Many who served in our armed forces didn’t necessarily see combat. However, almost all of us have participated in some sport—whether it was a track meet, a marathon, a baseball game, or a volleyball match. As we turn the page to Hebrews 12, the author employs the brilliant metaphor of a sporting event—in this case, a foot race—to encourage his readers to press on and finish their journey of faith. The spiritual athletes showcased in chapter 11 are ushered off the track and into the grandstands in chapter 12, where the author of Hebrews pictures them cheering us on as we take our places in the marathon of this life of faith.

12:1–3

The “therefore” in Hebrews 12:1 connects this passage to the previous discussion in a cause-and-effect relationship. Consequently, “since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses” refers to the men and women of the tapestry of faith masterfully woven in Hebrews 11. In other words, in light of the faithful testimonies of men and women like Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Rahab, and Gideon, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. (12:1).

(Put on two backpacks)

All believers have been entered into the contest of faith. In 12:1–3, the author of Hebrews takes the role of a coach, teaching us how to be prepared for the race and stay on track. The first thing the writer tells us to do is to throw off two things: “everything that hinders” and “the sin that so easily entangles” (12:1).

 

The Greek word translated “race” (agōn) can also be used in the sense of a “struggle” or “fight” (see Phil. 1:30; Col. 2:1; 1 Tim. 6:12). The Christian life is not a game of hopscotch. Nor is it a short sprint. It’s a challenging, exhausting marathon. Making it to the end requires us to set aside anything that might hold us back or weigh us down. The word translated as “hinders” (onkos) refers to “that which hinders one from doing something.” Picture a runner in our present context who is hindered by anything from a coat, sweatpants, hoodies, jewelry, and bulky shoes. Allen notes, “In the first century AD, runners ran in the stadium virtually naked. They would enter wearing long, flowing, colorful robes. At the start of the race, these would be discarded.”

 

In the spiritual race, we must set aside anything that might make endurance difficult—anything excessive, needless, or useless. These “hindrances” are not the same for each runner. Kent Hughes notes, “What is a hindrance to you may not be a hindrance in any way to someone else. A hindrance is something, otherwise good, that weighs you down spiritually. It could be a friendship, an association, an event, a place, a habit, a pleasure, an entertainment, an honor. But if this otherwise good thing drags you down, you must strip it away.” To endure the race of faith, believers must first set aside the needless baggage and useless distractions that would hold them back or slow them down.

(set aside front pack)

While things that weigh us down and distract us may be morally neutral, the second hindrance to spiritual endurance is not: “the sin that so easily entangles.” (Heb. 12:1). Any sin could trip us up—from the tiniest “fib” to outright apostasy. We must prepare ourselves to run a clean race, setting aside habitual sins and avoiding the constant temptations that can cause us to stumble and fall.

(set aside)

In the immediate context, however, it may be that the author has the specific sin of unbelief in mind. He refers to “the sin,” not simply to “sins” (12:1). The sin of faithlessness comes in different sizes. It may come as a biting fly buzzing around our head/—a nagging doubt that won’t stop irritating us. Or it could come as a dog nipping at our heels/—a lingering disbelief in the character or faithfulness of God. / Sometimes, a giant tree could fall across the path—a challenge to our faith so great it tempts us to abandon the race.

 

In every case, we are to set aside the unnecessary distractions and debilitating sin and instead, “And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (12:1). The saints of old did it (Heb. 11); now we are to follow in their well-worn path of faithful endurance. The path is before us. We don’t know where it will lead, how long it will go, whether it will be uphill or downhill, smooth or rocky, wet or dry. But faith is trusting God during the uncharted course, knowing that He has marked out for us, the path that will best contribute to our growth toward spiritual maturity.

 

While running this course, it is necessary to be driven by faith and drawn by hope. This is the point of 12:2–3. /We’re not to look down at our feet, /around at our surroundings,/ or behind at our accomplishments or failures. We’re to be “fixing our eyes on Jesus” (12:2). The verb translated “fixing our eyes” (aphoraō) means “to direct one’s attention without distraction.” (blinders on a horse) Jesus Christ—and Jesus Christ alone—is to be the focus of attention. Why? Because He has gone before us in this marathon of faith. He’s the origin of our life of faith and the One who will see us through to the end. As our perfect example, He looked beyond the suffering and shame of the cross, setting His hope on the joy that would be His when He sat down in glory at the Father's right hand. Hope drew Him onwards and upwards, giving Him the endurance needed to persevere through the hostility of sinners (12:3). Likewise, when we fix our eyes on Him and “consider Him,” “so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (12:2–3). Jesus Christ is superior for pressing on.

 

Jesus endured ruthless, unjust persecution from sinners (12:2–3). Yet these experiences were not outside His Father’s plan and purpose (Acts 2:23). Hebrews 5:8 reminded us, "Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.” Notice that Jesus is never said to have been “disciplined” by God. Discipline is for those prone to wander. But He did experience real human growth through trials. If Jesus, God’s perfect Son, demonstrated obedience to His Father in his endurance of suffering (Phil. 2:8), how much more should we expect to go through faith-challenging experiences in our growth process? That is, if Jesus, who was without sin, grew in His humanity through innocent suffering, how much more should we, who are sinful, expect to experience discipline at the hands of a loving Father? (at times that discipline may be painful ) By its very nature, to be a disciple of Christ, it does require discipline. ( Because we are prone to wander)

Here, the author of Hebrews touches on a reality that often tries our faith more than anything else: /the discipline of God. We learn that in our struggle against sin and our pursuit of righteousness, God providentially permits experiences, events, circumstances, and people that cause us pain—not to punish us but to purify us. We should rid ourselves of the thought that all discipline is painful.

 

12:4–6

Hebrews 12:4 notes that, unlike their Savior, the Jewish believers reading this letter had not yet suffered for their faith to the extent of shedding blood. They had not yet experienced martyrdom for their faith, as did their Lord (12:2–3). The affliction they had experienced, however, was trying their faith. They had been tempted to believe the lie that God had forsaken them or that perhaps He didn’t care for them. After all, if God were pleased with them, why would they suffer?

 

To answer why sometimes painful things were happening to God’s people, the author reminds them of a vital truth they had forgotten—a truth they could recall from Proverbs 3:11–12: NLT.

My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline,
and don’t be upset when he corrects you.
12 For the Lord corrects those he loves,
just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.[a] (Heb. 12:5–6)

Through this quotation from King Solomon,/ the Jewish believers’>beloved source of ancient wisdom, the writer identifies improper responses to God’s discipline that represent two extremes (12:5). The first is to reject discipline, to “make light of” it, ignores the difficult circumstances, trials, and tribulations God ushers into our lives to train us. The second response is to “be upset or lose heart” when we face His correction. We cave in, overreact, push back, or rebel against it. In the one case, we are numb to God’s hand of discipline; in the other case, we slap it away!

 

To avoid these two extremes, we need to see our struggles, trials, and temptations as something God uses to grow us. Sometimes, because of our rebellious disposition, the pain of these trials is the only thing that will get through to us. C. S. Lewis sums it up nicely: “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

 

This is why faith is essential to help us endure the painful trials in our lives. By faith, we trust that God loves us, that He is all-powerful, and that He knows us completely. That is, though we don’t fully understand how God is working things out for our good, we trust that He is (Rom. 8:28). By faith, we grasp the significance of the next line of Solomon’s proverb: that God disciplines out of love, not anger or hatred; and that when he punishes, He does so as a loving Father corrects a child (Heb. 12:6).

 

Therefore, faith enables us to respond to God’s discipline with hope rather than indifference or despair.

12:7–11

The author assures his readers, “Endure hardship as discipline” (12:7). Anybody who has parented knows that positive reinforcement through instruction and encouragement is never enough. We are fallen, sinful humans who will always balk at instruction and buck the correction established for our growth. Therefore, positive discipline also involves a flip side—negative consequences for failing to progress … and a painful punishment for rebelliously transgressing the rules....