Day 216 – Wednesday, October 29, 2025

One Year Journey Through the New Testament

Hebrews 12

Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!

The Race of Faith

1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

(Hebrews 12:1–2, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Paul followed up on his teaching about faith by encouraging the readers to live by the same creed, the creed of faith. He explained what this looked like: laying aside weights, denying sin, and running with endurance the race before them.
• He then told how this was possible, reminding them of the great number of witnesses around them and then pointing to the greatest example, Jesus Christ.
• He settled our salvation by His own actions, and because of Him, we can be free.

The Discipline of God

³ For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. ⁴ You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. ⁵ And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:

“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,

Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;

⁶ For whom the Lord loves He chastens,

And scourges every son whom He receives.”

⁷ If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? ⁸ But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. ⁹ Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? ¹⁰ For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. ¹¹ Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 

(Hebrews 12:3–11, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Paul showed them more of Jesus’ example by pointing out how much He was rejected and mistreated and used that as an example for us to follow, not giving up at the signs of resistance. Press on, being thankful for the discipline of the Father.
• He then further discusses discipline and chastening as needful, but also advantageous. If we are disciplined by God, then He considers us His sons and daughters. If not, we are not legitimate children of God at all.

Renew Your Spiritual Vitality

¹² Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, ¹³ and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

¹⁴ Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: ¹⁵ looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; ¹⁶ lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. ¹⁷ For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears. 

(Hebrews 12:12–17, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• The apostle then urges the readers to strengthen one another and themselves. Lift up those who are weak or injured and help them heal.
• He then gives instructions to the Hebrews to pursue peace, for it is essential to please God. Denying or even neglecting holiness will cause a believer to miss out on the blessings of a right relationship with God.

The Glorious Company

¹⁸ For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, ¹⁹ and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. ²⁰ (For they could not endure what was commanded: “And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow.” ²¹ And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”)

²² But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, ²³ to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, ²⁴ to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. 

(Hebrews 12:18–24, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Paul reminds the readers that they were not a Mount Sinai when God spoke to Moses and caused the entire mountain to be engulfed in smoke at His presence. They did not touch that fearful sight.
• However, they are coming to Mount Zion and the New Jerusalem to be a part of the great assembly of saints in that holy place.
• We are to be ready when that call comes, so that we will be accepted and perfect before God.

Hear the Heavenly Voice

²⁵ See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, ²⁶ whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” ²⁷ Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.

²⁸ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. ²⁹ For our God is a consuming fire. 

(Hebrews 12:25–29, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Paul warned the Hebrews not to reject the voice of God, even through the prophets of God.

• At the great shaking foretold by God, those who are not truly connected with God will be removed from that assembly.
• Serve God acceptably, in fear and trembling, knowing that your humility and holiness will bring you into the presence of God on that day.

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All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page. Another blog will be posted each weekday at 6:00 a.m.