“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” (Hebrews 12:1 NKJV).
God’s all I want. Of course I want and dearly love my: greatest husband in the world, my adorable angelic children, a clean house, a great car and my dog Gus.
However, we must love God first or we won’t know how to love anyone else. He’s a jealous God (Exodus 34:14). His first commandment is ‘love the Lord thy God with all your heart, soul and strength’ (Deuteronomy 6:5).
My spiritual mother, Elisabeth Elliot, was a missionary to the very people near Ecuador who killed her husband and four others. She’s a truth-seeker and truth-speaker --that’s what I aspire to be.
Elisabeth will be in the witness cloud. Her mentor, Amy Carmichael, is already there and cheering us on.
The author of Hebrews knew we needed help enduring this walk of faith. He listed many martyrs in chapter eleven who learned how to live knowing ‘God was all they wanted.’
God ruthlessly tested Abraham, father of the Jewish Nation. Jehovah wanted to know if there was anyone Abraham feared or loved more than Him (Genesis 22:12). God summoned him to kill his only son Isaac after waiting a lifetime for his birth.
God didn’t ask more of Abraham than He experienced Himself. It pleased God to bruise [kill] Jesus (Isaiah 54:10). Before the foundations were created a sinless Lamb was slain (Revelation 13:8).
Countless millions of dear saints, whom the world was not worthy, have gone to glory (Hebrews 11:38). They encourage us to obediently focus on the Lord’s will that we may finish the race.
“Those who have died in Christ are with Him. This is a fact in which you find extravagant comfort”
~~~Charles F. Stanley
