Sunday, January 8, 2012

LOOK UNTO JESUS, OUR EXAMPLE

12 THEREFORE THEN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony of the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance-unnecessary weight-and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us,
     2 Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher, [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
     3 Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself-reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials-so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds. (Hebrews 12:1-3).


12:1 The cloud of witnesses refers to the people of faith mentioned in ch 11. They are not actually spectators watching us; they are witnesses testifying to the truth of the faith (11:2, 4-6). Weight is anything that hinders a runner.


12:2 Looking here means "fixing one's eyes trustingly." We need to consistently focus on Christ instead of our own circumstances. finisher: Christ has done everything necessary for us to endure in our faith. He is our example and model, for He focused on the joy that was set before Him. His attention was not on the agonies of the Cross, but on the crown; not on the suffering, but the reward.


12:3 Consider here involves the idea of comparison, as an accountant would compare the various columns of a balance sheet. Believers should compare their sufferings to the torture Christ endured on their behalf (v.4). 
[THE NKJV STUDY BIBLE Second Edition].


[http://twitter.com/SowersOfTheWord].


JESUS IS LORD.


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