Hebrews Chapter 12
We know that God never promised us that this life would be easy as born-again Christians. The author of Hebrews, in this chapter tells us why we need to endure difficult times. The author looks at all those heroes of the faith mentioned in chapter 11, as if they are spectators from heaven who are cheering us on to overcome difficult times of life. They want us to endure, to keep moving forward as in an athletic competition. Scripture does not literally tell us if those who are in heaven can see our lives on earth, but this may suggest that they do.
Let's Reflect
1. What is the first thing we will need to do if we are to endure difficult times and endure the race?
2. As we run this race, or endure this life, who do we keep our eyes on? Where should our focus be? On Jesus, right? Yes! Notice what Jesus did, knowing He had to face the cross. He looked beyond the cross and endured it for what would come after. When we keep our focus on Jesus what will be the result?
3. In verse 5 the author reminds us that God calls us His sons. And since we are His sons (or daughters) we should feel honored to suffer in this lifetime considering what Jesus suffered for us to make us a part of His family. Sometimes He allows suffering in our life as a means of what?
4. Note: these Jewish Christians were so discouraged because they had started to experience social and economic persecution (though not yet to the point of shedding of blood). The author is encouraging them to look to Jesus and be strengthened in their faith. Whether we are experiencing difficult times simply because we live on this old sinful earth, or because we are being disciplined for our own sins, we can be trained by the discipline of enduring hard times, and we will reap what? See verse 11
Discouragement can make us sloppy, and we forget our pursuit of holiness. He uses the example of Esau who gave up his inheritance, in a moment of weakness, for food because he was hungry. We need to rely on the strength of our God and not grow bitter or discouraged in difficult times.
5. Verse 17 serves as a warning to us that some of the decisions we make in moments of weakness may very well be decisions that we will regret. And like Esau we may shed some _________ .
6. We can expect to see a shaking of this old world as we get closer to the second coming of Christ. But one thing we know is that the Kingdom of God will never be shaken. In verse 27 we read about a future time when He will shake this earth and the heavens to such a degree that what will happen?
7. What is the result of our endurance? See verses 28-29
