Yesterday at Saar Fellowship our text was Hebrews 12.1-11 and we talked about what our life of faith prepares us to do.
We said that our faith in Jesus, so well explained and exampled in chapters 1-11 prepares us for running, for endurance, and for growth in Christ. That is a big lofty goal isn’t it!
Run your race in Christ, endure life in Christ, grow in Christ. They are big lofty goals that can seem a little overwhelming.
Maybe you feel like well, I’m just little old me, how do I go about things that are so big and life-changing as that?
Friends, worry not!
Ephesians 4 tells us,
10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
God wants you to grow, God wants you to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.
God wants you to grow here, in the context of church, with others, for others, alongside others, helping others, being helped by others – makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
So, our faith allows us to run,
run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus
to endure,
Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
and to grow from Him, and to grow in Him, and to grow with Him,
we may share his holiness…yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Our faith allows us to run, to endure, to grow. Together.
James Travis 