Our Great Cloud Of Witnesses

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(Excerpted material from Cheryl Gnagey's Spiritual Healing:  The Surrender That Brings Victory, Chapter 11)

Wow!  It seems like it has been a very long time since I have posted a blog for you to use in your devotion time with God! Though I enjoyed my time off, I am glad to be back in the saddle again.  I just love getting back to routine! As I continue to quote through my book, Spiritual Healing:  The Surrender That Brings Victory, I am picking it up again in Chapter 11, entitled "Enduring The Journey." 

"We will be taking an in-depth look at Hebrews 12: 1-4, but before we begin our study of that passage, I remind you that it is important to read the Word in context.  It is always a good practice when you are studying the Word to look at the chapter before, ore a few verses before and after what you plan to study.  This will often give great insight into your passage of study.

The chapter just ahead of Hebrews 12: 1-4 is the chapter I have often heard referred to as the 'Christian Heroes Hall of Fame' or 'The Faithful Who's Who List' of all who are aspiring to be faithful followers of Jesus.  It is filled with the brief stories of the faith of the likes of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets.

This chapter tells us of the accomplishments of faith and obedience.  It tells us of the  many who have gone before us who walked in faith and gained God's approval.  It is a chapter full of miracles and hardships.  And this chapter is about the lineage of every believer.  It is about the legacy that has been left for us and from which we are to learn and then imitate.  Hebrews 11 is a list of our great cloud of the great cloud of witnesses that Hebrews 12: 1-4 refer to!

But Hebrews 12: 1-4 turns its attention to us, and it will cause us to ask ourselves just what kind of legacy we want to leave for those who will come after us."

Read it and let its deep truths and challenges sink in.  I will be blogging about this passage tomorrow.