Hebrews 12:1-11

1: Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 
2: fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 
3: For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

4: You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; 
5: and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, “MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; 
6: FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.”

7: It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
8: But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 
9: Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 
10: For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. 
11: All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

*** 

Paul referred to the people of great faith he had just discussed as a great cloud of witnesses which surround us. They inspire us to lay aside everything that would weigh us down and entangle us so we may run our own race—our own miracles and challenges set before us—with endurance.

We not only have these witnesses, but Jesus Himself. He is the One we are to fix our eyes on. Our faith originates and matures in Him. We have His example to consider—how He looked past the suffering of the cross to the joy which would come afterward. Consider Him and follow His example when times are tough.

Paul then spoke of the discipline of the Lord. How we are to resist sin to the point of shedding blood (not just tears) if necessary. We must strive against sin. As legitimate children of God He will discipline us. Our earthly fathers did so as they saw best, but our heavenly Father disciplines us for our good, so we may share His holiness. As we allow His discipline to train us, we will yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness. Paul quoted from Proverbs 3:11-12 and Job 5:17 to say not to regard His discipline lightly, or faint from it, because He disciplines those He loves. We are not illegitimate children of God, so let us welcome His discipline, His instruction, and His love, so we may live with Him eternally.


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