Slices
Prepare
Sing or say the words of a song of praise!
Bible passage
12 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 that was 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.
God disciplines his children
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.’
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,’ so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
Explore
Think about those you know who have fallen away from faith. I suspect that most did not wake up one day and suddenly stop believing in Jesus. Rather, they grew weary and lost heart (v 3). Maybe there was a sinful pattern of behaviour that they couldn’t seem to break or maybe their passion for Christ gradually fizzled out.
Thankfully, the writer to the Hebrews offers us some advice to prevent this from happening: we need to fix our eyes on Jesus (v 2). When we focus on him, we realise that he is worth it! Whether our faith is tested by suffering of different kinds, by opposition and persecution, by temptation and sin, or by years of unanswered prayer, he is still worth it. The author of Hebrews talks about discipline, which is for our own good, so that we might share in his holiness. God teaches us through our suffering (vs 4–11).
As a child I enjoyed horse-riding. If a rider looks ahead, the horse will follow; if you look down at the ground, you will probably end up there. When our focus moves away from Jesus, we may drift into other things. Even if outwardly we continue our ‘Christian’ behaviours, these become a chore rather than a delight, causing us to grow weary and lose heart. When Jesus is our focus, we are able to persevere.
Respond
Meditate on who Jesus is and what he has done. Use Philippians 2:6–11 or a Gospel passage to help you focus on him.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Exodus 37,38; Acts 3
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for the workers at Mission Partner Impact Schools based in North Powys – Darren Mayor, Huw Ellis and Cara Garton. Ask that they will be able to share the gospel effectively in local primary and high schools.
