Year 2, Week 50, Day 2 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 50, Day 2

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Hebrews 11-12.

Today’s reading covers two additional chapters of Hebrews. The Book of Hebrews does not indicate its human author, but this important Book exhorts believers to not turn from Christ, even as it is filled with reasons for the surpassing worth of Jesus and His superiority to the Old Covenant. In light of Christ’s surpassing worth and superiority, Hebrews 11 is an exhortation on faith: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible…And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:1-3,6). Faith, which was displayed through the lives of many of the Old Testament believers, takes God at His Word and lives out that trust through obedience and affliction. In light of the examples of the Old Testament believers who live out their reliance upon the Lord through obedience and affliction, Hebrews 12 is an exhortation to live a life of faith focused on Christ: “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).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was the call to focus on Christ amid suffering and affliction: “Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood” (Hebrews 12:3-4). Jesus experienced suffering as a part of the salvation that He would accomplish for His people: “Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 5:8-10). Every sort of affliction and trial that believers experience, the Lord Jesus Christ has suffered as well; and therefore, believers should turn to Him for the strength needed to endure: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). Thus, Jesus’ suffering was for His people’s salvation. However, Jesus’ sufferings also have a function of being an example for His people as to how they should view their sufferings.

Just as Jesus’ suffering was a sign of His Sonship, so suffering is a sign that believers are also sons: “And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives” (Hebrews 3:5-6; quoting Proverbs 3:11-12). The believers are exhorted to neither dismiss the Lord’s discipline, nor be weary by it. A dismissive attitude towards the Lord’s discipline suggests arrogance, while a wearisome attitude towards the Lord’s discipline suggests insecurity. But the discipling, chastening Hand of the Lord can certainly deal with arrogance, and it most certainly speaks to insecurity, for the Lord clearly loves those whom He applies Fatherly discipline: “It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?” (Hebrews 12:7). In fact, the absence of Fatherly discipline is a more troublesome sign: “If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons” (Hebrews 12:8).

Believers, therefore, are exhorted to humbly receive the Lord’s Fatherly discipline: “Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?” (Hebrews 12:9). Good things result from the Lord’s Fatherly discipline: “For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness” (Hebrews 12:10). The Lord’s discipline is always sourced in the good. The more believers remember that painful circumstances are orchestrated by God in His infinite wisdom, sovereign control, and Fatherly love, the better believers will bear His discipline in hopeful endurance. And in the good Fatherly plans of the Lord, the discipline of afflictions are designed to produce holiness. Believers do not need to deny the difficulty in accepting the discipline of afflictions, but they are exhorted to rehearse the designed outcome for such hard experiences: “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11). The Fatherly discipline of the Lord is neither punitive nor meaningless; the discipline of affliction flows from the Father’s loving care and His wise designs to bring His people further along in maturity.

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe