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…” vss. 1-2a
Hebrews 12:1-2
The record of faithfulness outlined in Hebrews 11 is impressive. Scribes had preserved nearly two millennia of stories and regarded those records as their holy scriptures. By faith, thousands of people had sacrificed their lives and were now regarded as a great cloud of witnesses who had made possible the mission of Jesus Christ. In him their faith had now been made perfect! The writer of Hebrews now exhorts his readers to exhibit that same wholehearted faith as they live out their own lives of sacrifice and service. And that’s exactly what has happened. For two thousand years, people of faith have proclaimed the gospel in every circumstance through every kind of adversity, and now billions of people look to Jesus as the pioneer and perfecter of their faith. And now it’s our turn. Now the cloud of witnesses is even larger and their mission is in our hands. Inspired and directed by the Spirit we are called to run the race that is before us with passion and purity. We will not be reliving the past, but inspired by our traditions, we will be remaking the future, thereby ensuring that the good news of God’s love will be preserved forever.
Thought for the Day: Who are my faith ancestors?
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