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.

THE RESURRECTED LIFE -- Day 39

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Day 39:  Timothy (2 Timothy 1: 1-7)

It was time to write his beloved Timothy again.  Paul first wrote to him five years earlier, when Timothy was shepherding the new church at Ephesus.  That first letter had been full of instructions on how he should lead that church, in a God-pleasing way.  But this letter would be different.  Knowing his time was short, Paul sat down to write this letter to address how Timothy should guard the spiritual treasure he had in Christ.  But there was another reason he was writing, as well.  Paul wanted is dear friend, Timothy to come and see him—and soon!  So putting quill and ink to the parchment, he began.  ”To Timothy, my beloved son.”   It wasn’t long before Paul’s mind began to reminisce. . .

Timothy had always been a faithful co-laborer for Christ.  And his faith in Him was so much like Paul’s own.  How Paul loved Timothy.  He even called him his true child of the faith.  What a blessing he had been because he constantly lived out what he believed.  How Paul longed for him to come! There was still so much to share with him, so much Timothy needed to learn in order to serve God to the fullest.  Paul’s desire was to be used as an example, and that the words that he wrote would be a great encouragement to Timothy, even long after Paul was gone.

“For I am mindful of your sincere faith,” Paul continued his letter.  Pausing again, he considered why Timothy’s faith had been so sincere.  Timothy’s spiritual heritage was stronger than any other he had known.  Both his grandmother and his mother had trusted God and walked in faith in Him.  The influence of these two godly women greatly influenced the young life of Timothy.  Without seeing their faith in action, Timothy would not have become a man with resurrection power flowing forth from him.  Two strong generations produced a believer who was not afraid to stand for what he believed.  “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power, love and discipline,” flowed on to the page of parchment.  How perfectly those words fit his beloved Timothy!

What does the spiritual legacy you are leaving your children look like?  Are you aware that the legacy they will carry on will look like what they have seen in you, not what they have heard you say?  Are you leaving a legacy for your co-workers and neighbors?  What do they see in you?