Monday, May 12, 2008
The Cheering Section
Well, here I am relaxing in the living room at the end of a nice Mother's Day. My amazing wife is sitting across the room from me Facebooking some of her friends and listening to a great worship song by our worship leader Josh Ortego. I don't want this evening to end. I love Sunday nights...I hate Monday mornings!
This evening I have found myself thinking about my Grandma Riley quite a bit. She passed away just about a year ago. I guess she is on my mind for a few reasons. It's Mother's Day; so I'm sure it has caused me to think about her. Also, last week would have been my grandpa and grandma's Anniversary and her birthday. They had such a great relationship.
I am confident that Grandma Riley is in heaven. I'm confident that she loved Jesus because He first loved her and that Jesus meant the world to her. But, there is something else that I don't completely understand but I'm confident in none the less.
Heaven is filled with a cheering section.
Just take a look at Hebrews 12:1: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." NIV
So many times, Hebrews 11 has been referred to as the Hall of Faith. The entire chapter is filled with stories of the great people of faith who have already completed their earthly journey with our God. Then, the author uses the great word, "therefore." He uses that word to show how the thoughts from Hebrews 11 join with the thoughts in Hebrews 12.
So, are you wondering what my point is yet? It is very simple. The author wants us to know that those who have walked the walk of faith before us, are now cheering us on in our walk. The faithful saints of the past are the "great cloud of witnesses." They witness to the faithfulness of God and they witness us as we run our race with perseverance. What does this have to do with Grandma Riley?
She's cheering.
She is cheering for me to throw off the things in my life that hinder me from my pursuit of Christ. She is cheering for me to escape the sins that can so easily entangle. She is cheering for me to keep my eyes focused on the Author and Finisher of my faith. Grandma Riley, like the other saints of the past, is cheering for me today! I'm thankful to know that she is in my cheering section. I need it.
Who has lived the faith life before you? They are cheering for you. They support you. They believe in you. And, they want you to win this race!
What an encouraging thought--no matter what challenges we face we have some great people of faith who have gone before us and they make up our cheering section!
Peace
This evening I have found myself thinking about my Grandma Riley quite a bit. She passed away just about a year ago. I guess she is on my mind for a few reasons. It's Mother's Day; so I'm sure it has caused me to think about her. Also, last week would have been my grandpa and grandma's Anniversary and her birthday. They had such a great relationship.
I am confident that Grandma Riley is in heaven. I'm confident that she loved Jesus because He first loved her and that Jesus meant the world to her. But, there is something else that I don't completely understand but I'm confident in none the less.
Heaven is filled with a cheering section.
Just take a look at Hebrews 12:1: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." NIV
So many times, Hebrews 11 has been referred to as the Hall of Faith. The entire chapter is filled with stories of the great people of faith who have already completed their earthly journey with our God. Then, the author uses the great word, "therefore." He uses that word to show how the thoughts from Hebrews 11 join with the thoughts in Hebrews 12.
So, are you wondering what my point is yet? It is very simple. The author wants us to know that those who have walked the walk of faith before us, are now cheering us on in our walk. The faithful saints of the past are the "great cloud of witnesses." They witness to the faithfulness of God and they witness us as we run our race with perseverance. What does this have to do with Grandma Riley?
She's cheering.
She is cheering for me to throw off the things in my life that hinder me from my pursuit of Christ. She is cheering for me to escape the sins that can so easily entangle. She is cheering for me to keep my eyes focused on the Author and Finisher of my faith. Grandma Riley, like the other saints of the past, is cheering for me today! I'm thankful to know that she is in my cheering section. I need it.
Who has lived the faith life before you? They are cheering for you. They support you. They believe in you. And, they want you to win this race!
What an encouraging thought--no matter what challenges we face we have some great people of faith who have gone before us and they make up our cheering section!
Peace
Labels: Brad, Chapel, death, Faith, God, Pastor, resurrection
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