Skip to main content

Great Cloud of Witnesses

Hebreus 12: 1 Portanto, visto que estamos rodeados por tão grande nuvem de testemunhas, joguemos fora tudo o que nos impede e o pecado que tão facilmente nos envolve.  E corramos com perseverança a carreira que nos foi traçada 2, fixando os olhos em Jesus, o pioneiro e consumador da fé.  Pela alegria que lhe estava proposta, ele suportou a cruz, desprezando sua vergonha, e sentou-se à direita do trono de Deus.


 Alguns disseram que a grande nuvem de testemunhas são pessoas que foram antes de nós para o céu.  Eles estão olhando do céu para nós que vivemos neste mundo e estão nos encorajando para a vitória em nossas vidas cristãs.

 Imagine, se você fosse um desses, no céu, e você tivesse que olhar pra você todos os dias.  O céu ainda seria o céu?  Ou você estaria roendo as unhas espirituais até o sabugo?

 A nuvem de testemunhas aqui são todas as pessoas de fé mencionadas no capítulo onze.  E eles não estão nos observando.  Eles estão servindo de exemplo para imitarmos.  Existem alguns personagens esquisitas na lista.  Samson para um, Jeptha para outro.

 Devemos prosseguir em nossa jornada terrestre em direção ao autor e consumador da fé, Jesus Cristo.  Ele suportou a vergonha, sofrendo e morrendo por nossa salvação.  Ele agora está sentado à direita do Pai em toda a sua glória.

 Portanto, precisamos deixar de lado todas as coisas estúpidas que tão facilmente nos colocam fora do curso e buscar a vocação celestial de Deus.

 Ao nos unirmos a essas testemunhas celestiais um dia, ficaremos felizes por termos nos empenhado em alcançar esse objetivo.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

What Are You Worth?

What are you Worth?  Have you ever thought about what you are worth? In investing circles there is a term used to gauge this exact question, it's called Net Worth. You take all of your assets, like property owned, funds in your bank account, clothes, jewelry, car, etc.. You total all of these things. You then take everything you owe, like mortgage, car loan, and credit card debt, and you subtract these items from the first total. This gives you your net worth. That number represents where you are financially. Most people never stop to think about this number because they don't understand anything about it. They never have two nickels to rub together. They live from hand to mouth and know (or at least believe) nothing will ever change so, they fall into the "daily grind" mentality. Psalm 49 should be a great encouragement to such as these. The sons of Korah write about them. These sons write about all of us. They call all people everywhere to listen to their wisdom. Bo...

Abs of Steel with Glasses

Have you ever wondered why Clark Kent always took his glasses off before he turned into Superman? I hadn’t ever thought about it either until this last Saturday when I almost got sucker-punched. Wellington, one of my spunky Juniors, wanted to wrestle. He feigned a punch to my gut and I said, “Go ahead. I have abs of steel!” I think that my gym visits might be going to my head because my abs of steel are buried under a healthy layer of blubber. I have improved my six-pack but it is far from chiseled. It looks more like a quarter of a keg. Anyway, quick as a wink and with near lightening speed Wellington said, “Yeah but up here is made of glass!” as his poke went within a hair’s breadth of my glasses! I belly-laughed. His rapid reflexes and wit had caught me by surprise. And what he said was so true and funny. It was an excellent though brief lesson. I often prepare for an oncoming fray. I get ready, set and then “BLAM”! The proverbial punch comes from a totally different direction. ...

The Circumcision Advantage

 What a title right? I'm thinking of Romans 3:1 where Paul asks, "What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision?"  This was always an avoided subject in Sunday school, especially in a mixed class. We didn't use the "C" word. Too wierd.  Paul is bringing up this topic for good reasons. He wants to show that the Jews definitely have had a great advantage during their history. In the next verse he tells one of them when he says, ... "First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God." The first jew talked to God in person. God chose Abram to be the father of many nations and to bring the blessing of the Messiah to the world. The Old Testament is the story of the Jewish nation. God dealt with the Jews throughout the ages of the time before Christ. They were the chosen. But in all that blessing they ended up crucifying the Messiah.  With all of their advantages the Jews came short of the ideal....