"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so a great cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set out before us..." --Hebrews 12:1
Third time looking at this verse, I know, but it's just so chock-full of good things!
Witnesses. What do you think when you hear that word? Sometimes it has a negative connotation. Witnesses are people who saw you do something wrong. Witnesses are people to "rubbed out" by the mob in the movies. Quoth Bart Simpson: "I didn't do it. You didn't see me do it. You can't prove anything." Witnesses are not necessarily considered good things.
Witnesses are people who watch what we do...and we are SURROUNDED by them. They see us from all angles. Some angles are flattering but other angles make us look not-so-good. But witnesses see things and we are encircled by them. Intimidating, no?
NO! Encouraging! Each of us is surrounded by people watching our every move! Some of them are waiting for us to fail so that they can point it out and feel better about themselves. Others are encouraging, helping us when we fall. Some are looking up to us, wondering what to do in a certain situation and so they look to us as role models. Others are watching to help us do better.
Witnesses are the reason that we do all the other things listed. "BECAUSE we are surrounded..." let us do all the other things. And, let us take advantage of all these eyeballs. Enemies who point out our faults help us to see us worse than we are so that we can be honest in our confession. Friends who encourage us point out the good things that give them strength, things that we should get better at. Those looking up to us want to emulate us, giving us a reason to get better ourselves so that we can strengthen the next generation. Supporters watching us so that they can refine our form and make us stronger and more efficient.
People are watching, waiting, wanting to help us. Witnesses are all around us helping to be better than we are; helping us be the people that they know we can be; helping us to be more like Jesus. Use those witnesses!
Third time looking at this verse, I know, but it's just so chock-full of good things!
Witnesses. What do you think when you hear that word? Sometimes it has a negative connotation. Witnesses are people who saw you do something wrong. Witnesses are people to "rubbed out" by the mob in the movies. Quoth Bart Simpson: "I didn't do it. You didn't see me do it. You can't prove anything." Witnesses are not necessarily considered good things.
Witnesses are people who watch what we do...and we are SURROUNDED by them. They see us from all angles. Some angles are flattering but other angles make us look not-so-good. But witnesses see things and we are encircled by them. Intimidating, no?
NO! Encouraging! Each of us is surrounded by people watching our every move! Some of them are waiting for us to fail so that they can point it out and feel better about themselves. Others are encouraging, helping us when we fall. Some are looking up to us, wondering what to do in a certain situation and so they look to us as role models. Others are watching to help us do better.
Witnesses are the reason that we do all the other things listed. "BECAUSE we are surrounded..." let us do all the other things. And, let us take advantage of all these eyeballs. Enemies who point out our faults help us to see us worse than we are so that we can be honest in our confession. Friends who encourage us point out the good things that give them strength, things that we should get better at. Those looking up to us want to emulate us, giving us a reason to get better ourselves so that we can strengthen the next generation. Supporters watching us so that they can refine our form and make us stronger and more efficient.
People are watching, waiting, wanting to help us. Witnesses are all around us helping to be better than we are; helping us be the people that they know we can be; helping us to be more like Jesus. Use those witnesses!
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