I will return to blogging sometime after November 1. In the meantime: please pray that God would be merciful regarding my headaches and please pray that He will continue to complete the Good Work He started in us! (Phil 1:6)
Pastor Scott
Month: July 2026
There is a saying amongst public speakers that “familiarity breeds contempt.” The thinking is that if you repeat yourself too often, the audience will stop listening. There is a contradictory proverb that says, “Repetition stresses importance.” Hebrews 12:1-2 is just such a verse. You’ve heard it so often that it’s easy to blow off because it’s overly familiar. But today I heard it preached at the funeral of a young woman and it took on a deeper meaning!
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
- Chapter 11 is the cloud of witness!
- The “weight” is all the stuff that seems important but doesn’t help us run toward Jesus
- The clinging “sin” isn’t hard to identify – but will take Christ’s help to tear away
- “Running with endurance” implies a long race – in this case a life long race
- Just remember that we look ahead to the same joy that was set before Christ!
- If we do it wrong, I believe we will still cross the finish line (1 Cor 3:15)
- But I suspect there will be far more joy involved if we do it right!
- So let’s keep our eyes on Jesus and run toward Him and Him alone!
YBIC,
Pastor Scott
Grace Notes 