DAY THIRTEEN—“Remember therefore from where you have fallen.”

Inspiration—Endurance                                Scripture Reading—Hebrews 12:1-13

Before you start today, be sure you have a pen and paper close by so you can write down and think about your answers as you read and reflect.

1. In reading today’s scriptures, what is meant by a “great cloud of witnesses”?
   Read the list of names in Hebrews 11, which is known as the Great Hall of Faith.  Those men and women who have gone before us, revealed their faithfulness, even in the midst of suffering and martyrdom.  They are our “witnesses” that we, too can endure whatever God allows to happen in our lives in the days we are living.

2. Jesus is described as the Author and Protector of our faith—He began our faith when He came to this earth as our Savior, and He finished our faith when He was raised from the grave as our Lord.
3. Jesus suffered as an example for us lest we be weary and discouraged in our minds.
4. Re-read verse 7 to see how God teaches us endurance.
   He will chasten us—which  means He trains us through the daily trials and tribulations to strengthen us for the persecution ahead.

5. In verse 8 we find there is a reason if we are NOT being chastened or disciplined.
   It proves that we are not God’s sons—we may have joined the church, been baptized, become a part if the fellowship of believers, but if there is no chastening of the Lord, we have never truly been born again.

6. In verses 12-14, the writer asked his readers to do three things:
   • Strengthen up the hands and knees of those who are struggling
   • Make straight paths for yourself, lest you go the wrong way.
   • Follow peace with all men, and holiness without which no man will see God.

Application—Repent

As you read the following questions, write your answers so that you can re-read and reflect on them.

1. How is life like a “race”?
2. How is YOUR LIFE like a “race”?
3. Have you grown “weary in well doing”?
4. Are you about to lose heart?
5. Is God chastening you?

• • In what areas of your life?
  • How is He chastening you?

Application—Return

1. Name as many people as you can whom you KNOW to be TRUE CHRISTIANS.
   (You are not judging them—you are only evaluating their walk to see if it matches their talk)

2. How many of them either have been, or are going through some “chastening”?
3. List the one thing that is holding you back from a total surrender to Christ!
4. If you can truly mean it, tell God you are willing to give that up—even resisting it to the point of shedding blood, if necessary!
5. Thank God for His Son who is the Author and Protector of your faith.
6. Thank God for His loving discipline in your life!

“He is no fool, who gives up that which he cannot keep, to gain that which he cannot lose!”
—Jim Elliott, one of five missionaries who gave their lives trying to get the gospel to the Auca Indians.

I invite you back tomorrow for DAY FOURTEEN of “REDISCOVERING YOUR FIRST LOVE!”