Bible Study
Hello there,
Thanks for joining me. This is the first part of a 3-part series that I’ll be doing in the next few days. Let’s start with an introduction.
Introduction
Benefits of regular exercise include among others; reduced risk of certain diseases, weight control, energy burst, sharp thinking, improved mental health. I used to think myself as an exercise freak, not anymore! Aside from walking plus/minus jogging and riding my stationary bike, sorry, I can’t boast of loving any other form of exercise. So it’s looking more like I really don’t do much exercising, certainly not much strength training. My bad!
Exercise and Weights
Strength training exercises are designed to improve strength and endurance. Common examples include use of; weights, resistance bands, body weights and weight machines.
When properly done, weight training helps build muscle, control bone loss, improve balance, boost energy levels as well as help weight control. Wrong use of weights and wrong posturing during weight lifting have proven to be detrimental.
I did a little bit of weight training years back and what I enjoyed most was the sustained weight control even after a short break. And even though it’s been said that incorporating good strength training into personal workouts is important as one ages, I still think it is much easier exercising without than with weights. You don’t have to agree with me. Well, try running with ankle weights!!! See!….Naughty me. But see what Hebrews 12:1 says…..
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a 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 before us” Hebrews 12:1 NKJV. https://my.bible.com/bible/114/HEB.12.1
The Hebrews 11 faith Giants
Naturally, starting with a ‘therefore‘, Hebrews 12 is a continuation of Hebrews 11. And Hebrews chapter 11 is the famous faith scripture! Verse 1 through to 40, reels out daring incidents and adventure of faith by respectable Bible patriarchs -Noah, Abraham, Enoch, Abel, Sarah, Moses, Gideon, Sampson, David, etc, etc. Woohoo!!! Great men and women who conquered and overcome through faith and patient endurance. While some of these folks recorded great feats for themselves, their nation and generations after them, some of them looked forward to seeing the Messiah but weren’t opportune to. Nonetheless, they weren’t deterred in hoping to see the Messiah! Didn’t happen, but they never gave up their faith.
Following The Example of The Faith Elders
What Hebrews 12:1 is saying is this; if these men could achieve much in their time, never gave up their believe of the coming of the Messiah, then we who have witnessed the Messiah should do more. We should learn from their example and run our race of faith swiftly and purposefully. However, we will be unable to achieve what they achieved, with “weights” tagging along…..
“We have all these great people around us as examples. Their lives tell us what faith means. So we, too, should run the race that is before us and never quit. We should remove from our lives anything that would slow us down and the sin that so often makes us fall.“
Hebrews 12:1 ERV
The ‘Race-Limiting Weights‘ of Hebrews 12
Reading down Hebrews 12, we identify some rate limiting “weights“….
1. Bitterness resulting from unearned hostility (verse 3)
You know some people are just troublesome and they end up with lots of enemies. But have you ever been in a situation where someone is picking a fight with you and you’re asking yourself; ‘what exactly have I done wrong?’ Happens! Ask Jesus about it. He was Hated Without Cause (John 15:25). According to Hebrews 12:3, a situation like this, has the tendency to make one weary and discouraged.
“A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a castle.“
Proverbs 18:19 NKJV
As much as we would want to feel justified to be upset and resentful in these kinds of circumstances, bitterness is a weight that won’t let us run our race of faith. Lay it Aside.
According to Hebrews 12: 4, whatever hostility we feel today is nothing compared to what Jesus felt. We have not yet “resisted to bloodshed“
‘‘Just consider and meditate on Him who endured from sinners such bitter hostility against Himself [consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” Hebrews 12:3. AMP.
Bitterness is evil. It steals from the grace of God made available to us, plants the seed of discord and disunity among brethren and it corrupts or defiles a Christian fold.
“looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled“
Hebrews 12:15 NKJV
2. Resentment resulting from Chastening
Look at these 4 words; Rebuke. Chasten. Scourge. Discipline. They don’t sound nice. And they sure don’t feel right. I am happy that Hebrews 12:11 alludes to this fact…….
‘Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.’ Hebrews 12:11. NKJV
There are 5 kinds of Chastening (from 2 sources) in Hebrews 12 verses 4 to 11. Number 1: Chastening by our Heavenly Father. 2. By a Human Father. 3. Chastening In Love. 4. By an Authority. 5. Chastening for Personal Gain.
Forgive this very interesting categorization…….But notice we have 2 main sources of chastening expressed in different ways.
Chastening by Our Heavenly Father
We see a Father/Son relationship here. We see love, trust, selflessness. When God chastens us, He means for us to be better (verse 10). If we feel weary and discouraged because of a corrective chastening done in love, then we are not ready to grow. As legitimate sons of God, we are to accept and endure His chastening because they are ultimately profitable to our souls.
Chastening By A Human Father
Again we see a father/son relationship with or without love and trust. The corrective art may be selfless/selfish. It may be done in love or imposed by virtue of position (authority) in which case obedience and compliance are demanded. Respect is given nonetheless. I have to say that this seems rather an extreme approach to chastening by a human father.
As a parent, I’d normally (many times), call a meeting with my children, present the issues to them, communicate my displeasure/discipline plan and then ask their opinion. I do similar thing with my staff. I’ve come to find that it is much easier to help people make a change when we make them part of the change process by showing them the benefits they stand to gain. This process in itself builds mutual trust and respect. It also provides an opportunity to understand the other persons perspective, concerns or fears.
Now, looking at the 2 main types of chastening described, I would think that a chastening by God should be easy to accommodate…it is laden with love. But Hebrews 12: 5-10, is painting a picture of a son resisting chastening from Our Heavenly Father! Why so? My thoughts are 1. Existence of a shallow Father/Son relationship. 2. Inability to differentiate a God chastening from a Human chastening. I believe that when either of these 2 is the case, people can become resentful.
Well, resentment is a weight that will not let us run our race of faith. Lay it Aside.
Actually, none of the above 2 types of chastening feels good. However, submitting to Godly chastening, trains us and build us up.
As legitimate sons of God, we must expect and accept chastening. When God corrects us, we should accept and endure the training because it ultimately works for our good.
Bitterness and resentment many times flow together. It is unlikely to have one without the other. Let’s be on the alert and refuse to be ready tools in the hands of the enemy.
Please join me in the second and third parts of this series in the coming days.
In the 3rd part we’ll consider how to lay aside these rate limiting weights so that we finish our race of faith honorably just like the Elders of Hebrews 11.
Prayer…
Heavenly Father, thank You for this liberating Word. I shake off every weight that is holding me down, lay it aside and choose instead to operate in the spirit of love, power and sound mind. I resist and overcome you devil. And I declare that my mind is filled with Godly thoughts, feelings and emotions. I walk and operate under the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus Christ name. Amen.
