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

Our Grace for All theme this month is ‘What does the Lord require?’ And our scripture reading for today does include a directive: to throw off the things that hinder and the sin that entangles, and to run the race before us with perseverance. Resist evil, the writer of Hebrews admonishes, and finish the job.

But this passage includes not only a directive. It also includes a reminder: we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Chapter 11, the chapter preceding these verses I just read in the book of Hebrews, reads like a walk through the Hall of Fame of faith. It names Noah, and Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Moses. It gives examples of their faith and perseverance. It is meant to strengthen and encourage the reader or hearer of this text by evoking a legacy, an inheritance. Do not forget where you come from, the writer of Hebrews suggests. Know your story. Remember your ancestors. Take up the mantle. You are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.

Doing what God requires, obeying God’s commands, and following the Way of Christ can be hard. We daily encounter things that might hinder or entangle us, distracting us from the call to love and serve as Christ loved and served. But we, too, are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses, faithful servants who committed their lives to discipleship. Take a moment now to consider those who came before you, the cloud of witnesses that surrounds you.

Be strengthened and encouraged as you go about this day, encountering obstacles and snares, yet still striving to run the race with perseverance. You do not go alone.

Let us pray:

Merciful God, we give thanks today for those who have gone before us to lead the way in the life of faith. We thank you for their example, and we ask for a measure of their perseverance. Strengthen us in the awareness that we are surrounded by their witness even now, that we may finish the race marked out for us. In Christ’s name we pray, amen.

Today’s devotional was written and read by Greta Smith.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

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First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.