Persevere in Faith – Hebrews 12:1-3 (extended paraphrase)

Carrying on from the recent post, Our Sole Focus – Without it, a “Slow Fade,” the following recount is an embellished paraphrase of Hebrews 12:1-3 based on the Amplified version (actual Scripture in bold).

I find this exercise assists in meditating over God’s revealed Word. Like sipping fine wine or tasting delicious chocolate, a little at a time goes a long way i.e. read slowly and allow it to seep into the cracks of your conscious mind.

Here it goes...

THEREFORE THEN, because we know of what has just been discussed (faith and its righteous and just results), and since we are surrounded on every side, dynamically throughout history, by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have with accuracy borne testimony to the Truth, hitting the target each time], let us strip off like we would wet clothing and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight)--[so as to attain the perfection of lightness] and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, anchoring us, and let us finally and victoriously run with patient endurance, resilience and steady and active persistence the appointed course (and no one else’s) of the race that God has designed and that which is now set before us,

Looking away, and choosing to do so by the will of the mind, and an obedient heart, [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the only true Leader (the Champion, Advocate, Highest Priest) and the Source of our faith i.e. the One who wrote it from before the beginning [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection] ensuring nothing could be added to it. He, for the radical joy [of obtaining the prize] that was prepared in advance for him and finally set before Him, and for the thought of saving us personally into the bargain, endured the cross, defiantly despising and ignoring the shame as if there was no cost to bear, and is now seated on high, in the highest heaven, at the right hand of the throne of God where we too will one day worship Him forever.

Just think of Him, my Jesus, your Jesus, our Jesus, Who endured (put up with) from sinners and the worst people anyone could imagine such grievous and impossible opposition and bitter hostility the worst of the worst against Himself [reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you may not grow weary or exhausted and entirely give up, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in utter hopelessness in your minds.

Copyright © 2009, S. J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.