“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2
The thing to remember as we start running the race that God has designed for us, is that there are those who are watching us. That is a sobering thought! I don’t want others to see the sins I commit. For Jesus to see them is one thing, because he forgives them, but for others to see them is a different matter. Our sins weigh us down, so it is wise to confess our sins to God and to those we have sinned against quickly. A clear conscience is necessary to endure our race. Not having a clear conscience slows us down. We can become depressed.
I have found that when I am depressed, it is usually because I have guilt. The only time I remember being depressed without guilt was in the hospital when I needed a transfusion of blood. As soon as I received a pint of blood, I was immediately relieved of my depression. The point is that there are some medical reasons for depression. Not all depression is from guilt, but surely most of it is. Read Psalm 51:1-12.
The witnesses see also my times of love and service to others. Do you think they clap in heaven when they see us loving and serving others? I’m not sure about that but I do know that those times are not forgotten. Take a look at Hebrews 6:10. “For God is not so unjust as to overlook your work and the love you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do.”
There are the hard times and the easy time for each of us. And we must endure the hard times. Remember what Paul says in Romans 5:3-5? “More than that, we rejoice in our suffering, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
Think for a moment how your enduring suffering has produced character in you. I think I will write down what I learned from a few difficult periods in my life so I can thank God for them and look forward to the hope of God’s love being poured into my heart.
The great need that I have today is God’s love in my heart for him and for others. You probably need the same. I’ll pray for your need and I would appreciate your praying for my great need.
Thank you, Rosemary, for faithfully sharing these precious Last Lessons. I have read them all......and I can honestly say that your words never fail to encourage me and inspire me to live each day for the Glory of God.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to let you know that there are many of us who deeply appreciate and look forward to your weekly lessons. I also try to put them into practice in my life. Including using the Rafiki Bible Study materials in my church Women's group. We have completed several. Excellent!
It is a privilege to pray for you, as you requested.....that your love for God and for others would grow more and more. That is what I want and need as well.
Thank you Rosemary. In Jesus Love,
Becky Baker