WITNESSES AND RUNNING "For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." -- TOMORROW:
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin." (Heb 12:1-4)
Devotion 11 of 13
If it seems as though you have been required to pass through great difficulties, consider Jesus! If you have faced opposition and hostility from sinners, consider Jesus! No one has ever "endured" such remarkable hostility and opposition. In Jesus, the world became openly and unquestionably aligned against the Living God. The "kings of the earth" set themselves deliberately and determinedly against Him (Psa 2:2). They saw Him as a restriction upon themselves, and resolved to violently tear away that restriction (Psa 2:3).
Although He was the appointed Cornerstone, determining the nature of God's dwelling among men, the "builders" forthrightly "rejected" Him (Psa 118:22; Matt 21:42; Acts 4:11). Those rejecting Him struck Him, pulled the hair from His face, and spat upon Him (Isa 50:6). His "visage," or appearance was "so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the sons of men" (Isa 52:14).
In addition to the direct hostility of sinners, He tasted the bitter cup of human transgressions, which were all "laid on" Him. His spirit had never been soiled with sin, nor had any guile or pretension been in His mouth. The experience to which He was appointed was itself so repulsive to the Savior, He sought a way of avoiding it (Luke 22:41-44). We are not capable of perceiving the fulness of the hostility involved in our Lord's confrontation of the sins of the world, and even being "made sin for us" (2 Cor 5:21). Yet, we are to consider that hostility in its entirety – from the manger to the cross!
And why are we to consider such things? "Let ye become wearied and faint in your minds." While some affirm that such a thing is not possible, the Spirit solemnly warns us of this condition. Were there no danger of becoming wearied and fainting in our minds, a warning of this nature would not be required.
Spiritual fatigue and discouragement can be lethal to the soul. If you do not keep Jesus at the heart of your consideration, the opposition of the world will wear you down. When we lose our spiritual bravery and determination, finishing the race becomes impossible. The Lord does not place us on a self-propelled vehicle to bring us to glory, but in a race – a race with other contenders. There are distractions, oppositions, and conflicts all the way. There are storms of trial, floods of affliction, and fires of testing through which you must run – all the while contending with fierce adversaries.
How do you hope to finish this race if you become weary and "faint in your mind." What will you do of your strength runs out, and you are no longer able to run? Do you imagine this cannot happen to you? If you do not "consider" the Lord Jesus, this WILL happen to you! That is one of the primary purposes of the consideration: "so that you will not grow weary and lose heart" (NIV). Such a condition invariably exaggerates the enemy and diminishes the Savior – and that is the prelude to defeat!
Our spiritual strength is fueled by our vision of Christ. If He is not seen, strength dissipates. There is no healing or renewal apart from "the Sun of righteousness" (Mal 4:2). I feel compelled to say the following because of my own experience in the faith. Much of contemporary religion is actually a distraction to the saints. It makes it exceedingly difficult to consider Jesus or focus upon Him. There simply is too much EMPHASIS on life in this world, human relationships, and other matters strictly related to being "in the body." However, this world cannot be allowed preeminence in any sense without suffering spiritual retardation, fatigue, and discouragement. Unless that trend is reversed, and the heart and mind are set upon the Lord Jesus, our faith will not be perfected, and we will not enter into a glorious reign with Jesus, or dwell forever in the courts of the Lord.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, grant me the ability to perceive Jesus, and know that I am doing so.