week9&10 | exhortations: join the pilgrimage of faith || faithful living in community
Friday, 12 March 2010
Hebrews 12:1-29
Hebrews 13:1-25
We will be concluding this week. With these two concluding chapters, the author of Hebrews will lay out what it means to live out our faith, in light of everything he has said so far.
With the first half of chapter 12 the overarching theme is about running a race, with discipline from God the father being the way he instructs and trains us. This metaphor seems to dramatically {re}shape our understanding of what it means to be a Christian, a follower of Christ Jesus. A race has purpose, direction, drawing us into the needed training & discipline. It gives our life a meaning & focus.
Deeply consider what this metaphor means for you.
The second half of chapter twelve gives us an imaginative vision of the finish line—a great crowd joyful gathered with God the father & Jesus the Son. It is a celebration, the great banquet, that we are running towards.
The last chapter of Hebrews concludes with practical exhortation about how we are to live with others, in light of what Christ has done. Search for what the essential message is, what is our act of worship & sacrifice? Hebrews 13:20-21 are an encapsulation of the gospel, the message which he has taken thirteen chapters to unpack. Take some time and slowly read through it, trying to deeply understand each part of the verses.