READ: Hebrews 12:1-3
MEMORY VERSE
“Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.” Hebrews 12:1
BACKGROUND
Watermelon vines had overtaken my garden. They snaked across the stone path, climbed the fence, and—worst of all—tried to choke my favorite vegetable plants. I knew the garden wouldn’t thrive unless I took action.
So, one evening I went to work uncurling tendrils from stems and leaves. When the coils grew back, I kept removing them until the vegetable plants finally matured and produced plump tomatoes and shiny peppers.
Sins like greed, lust, and hate can overtake our lives like the vines that tried to dominate my garden. Left untended, the seed of a wrong thought may develop until it controls our desires and actions like a “sin that so easily entangles” (Hebrews 12:1) and holds us back from growing spiritually.
The writer of Hebrews encourages us to “throw off everything that hinders” so that we can “run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (v. 1).
To break free requires that we acknowledge we need help to handle the sin. This can be difficult if we’ve convinced ourselves and others that it’s not a serious issue.
Once we sincerely admit the problem, Jesus welcomes our prayers of confession and forgives us immediately (1 John 1:9). He can show us how to change our life patterns and, through the power of the Holy Spirit, help us to overcome the bondage that prevents us from flourishing.
Jennifer Benson Schuldt
INSIGHT
The original audience of the letter to the Hebrews was Jewish believers in Jesus who may have considered reverting back to Judaism or were straying toward false teachings (see 2:1-4; 3:1-4).
Many scholars believe the book was written before the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in ad 70 because it includes references to Jewish ceremonies and sacrifices. The author understood that the readers would need perseverance to face trials and persecution.
Hebrews encourages believers to endure and hold fast to Christ (2:1-4; 3:7–4:13; 5:11–6:2). In chapter 11, known as the “Hall of Faith,” the author commends the many men and women of the Bible who lived by faith and sometimes died because of it.
Therefore, because of their witness and example, believers in Christ are prompted to “throw off everything that hinders”—including sin—and “run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (12:1).
Alyson Kieda
APPLICATION
What sin has the power to make you fall repeatedly? How does God want you to address this problem?
PR’s (Pastor Richard) RE-EMPHASIS (From Today’s Post)
PR’s TAKE
“Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression.” Psalms 19:13
PRAYER
“Dear God, please forgive me for the actions and attitudes that grieve You and help me change from this point forward.”
TODAY’S HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“BREAK EVERY CHAIN” Tasha Cobbs Leonard
There is power in the name of Jesus
There is power in the name of Jesus
There is power in the name of Jesus
To break every chain, break every chain,
Break every chain
To break every chain,
Break every chain, break every chain
There is power in the name of Jesus
There is power in the name of Jesus
There is power in the name of Jesus
We know where it is
To break every chain, break every chain,
Break every chain
To break every chain, break every chain, break every chain
There’s an army rising up
There’s an army rising up
There’s an army rising up
To break every chain, break every chain,
Break every chain
To break every chain, break every chain, break every chain
There’s an army rising up…
The chains are broken (The chains are broken)
The chains are broken (The chains are broken)
The chains are broken (The chains are)
The chains are broken
I hear the chains falling
I hear the chains falling,
The chains are falling…
