Dearest e-votees-
I hope and pray your Holy Week has been blessed so far. May we all be drawn deeply into the passion of our Lord in these next few days ahead. There is good news coming for all the world. And we are privileged to have heard and to have believed and are now invited to participate in a great cloud of witnesses. May we hear and believe again as we linger in Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday.
For this week's time together we will use one of the texts appointed for today--the Wednesday of Holy Week--as our focus.
Peace,
Karl
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Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.
Hebrews 12:1-3, NRSV
The great cloud of witnesses is detailed out in the 11th chapter of Hebrews. Their stories are briefly recapped in that wonderful section of scripture. Their stories are detailed more fully--warts and all--in the books of the Bible. Ordinary people enduring extraordinary experiences as they have been equipped by the Holy Spirit and God's calling on their lives.
All of us have been called to run a race. It is not the proverbial rat race but rather a holy pursuit of God's calling on our life. There are all sorts of distracters--weights and sins--which hinder that pursuit. The author of Hebrews invites us to put those aside and run with perseverance. The example given to us is Jesus enduring the pain and shame of the cross.
All of us have been called to place and a way better than what the world offers. That doesn't mean we need to leave the world or hide from the world--Jesus lingered and lived well in the world. But our hearts and our minds and our attitudes should rest in their heavenly citizenship.
When we grow weary and lose heart (not if but when) we can consider Jesus and that great cloud of witnesses of which we are a part. God's calling on our lives is faithful and true. The Holy Spirit is more than enough to equip us with faith and hope and trust and even prayers on our behalf with sighs too deep for words to express.
We are never alone and the race marked out for us will come to a holy completion. May we all run well, encourage others along the way and keep our eyes on Jesus. Amen.
I hope and pray your Holy Week has been blessed so far. May we all be drawn deeply into the passion of our Lord in these next few days ahead. There is good news coming for all the world. And we are privileged to have heard and to have believed and are now invited to participate in a great cloud of witnesses. May we hear and believe again as we linger in Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday.
For this week's time together we will use one of the texts appointed for today--the Wednesday of Holy Week--as our focus.
Peace,
Karl
--------------
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.
The great cloud of witnesses is detailed out in the 11th chapter of Hebrews. Their stories are briefly recapped in that wonderful section of scripture. Their stories are detailed more fully--warts and all--in the books of the Bible. Ordinary people enduring extraordinary experiences as they have been equipped by the Holy Spirit and God's calling on their lives.
All of us have been called to run a race. It is not the proverbial rat race but rather a holy pursuit of God's calling on our life. There are all sorts of distracters--weights and sins--which hinder that pursuit. The author of Hebrews invites us to put those aside and run with perseverance. The example given to us is Jesus enduring the pain and shame of the cross.
All of us have been called to place and a way better than what the world offers. That doesn't mean we need to leave the world or hide from the world--Jesus lingered and lived well in the world. But our hearts and our minds and our attitudes should rest in their heavenly citizenship.
When we grow weary and lose heart (not if but when) we can consider Jesus and that great cloud of witnesses of which we are a part. God's calling on our lives is faithful and true. The Holy Spirit is more than enough to equip us with faith and hope and trust and even prayers on our behalf with sighs too deep for words to express.
We are never alone and the race marked out for us will come to a holy completion. May we all run well, encourage others along the way and keep our eyes on Jesus. Amen.
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