“Trust the Lord always, because the Lord, the Lord alone, is an everlasting rock.”
(Isaiah 26:4 GW)
It’s deep cleaning time.
After a busy summer I am turning my attention to the deeper cleaning of my house. I’m not a daily or even weekly housekeeper whose abode is always neat, tidy, and super clean. House cleaning is by no means a passion or interest of mine – a necessary “evil” is closer to my lines of thinking. I don’t even really like the process, although I do like the order, cleanliness, and peace of it being done. I have learned over the years that the “ugh” of the process is worth the “yay” of the product, so I persevere. I’d like to reset the orderliness of my house so the actual cleaning is easier, faster, and less “traumatic.” Today starts that process. With any luck (and a lot of work) by this time next week the projects on my list will be complete.
I admire people who have their house cleaning routines to a daily and/or weekly pattern that, in essence, keeps their house “always clean.” I don’t necessarily have a daily physical house cleaning plan, but I do better with my spiritual house. If I am daily in the Word, daily writing (a spiritual discipline for me), daily praying, daily listening for God, then my spiritual “house” is in better order. The spiritual dust and cobwebs don’t build up as quickly. The misplaced laundry or items or furniture aren’t out of order as easily. My spiritual “home” is ready for visitors and conversation.
But every so often even the spiritual home needs a deep cleaning.
The other night I was fussing at God because I didn’t really have any part of the Bible I was drawn to read. (I’m not doing a Bible plan right now.) He took me to Hebrews 12. Not my favorite book, but ok, God. This starts with a scripture most of us are familiar with and like:
“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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” (Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV)
It’s comforting to think of all the men and women who have gone before us – relatives, friends, strangers – surrounding us and encouraging us. And running a race can give us a purpose and plan, something to sink our teeth into and go after.
This morning I spent about an hour working through just the first two verses. I won’t go into all of it in this blog post (although, probably in future ones), but here’s some things I picked up from my NIV study Bible and the notes in the Passion Translation.
- Jesus is the Beginner, the one who leads all others in faith toward faith’s definitive goal.
- Jesus is the perfect embodiment of faith and the supreme model for it.
- The race we run is much like a marathon, but also like an obstacle course – a race that isn’t easy because it has agony and conflict – but this race is the proper path that has been set before us.
- We run with passion and determination the race personally appointed to us so we give ourselves fully to reach God’s destiny for us.
But if we stop there, we’ve missed parts of what the writer of Hebrews tries to remind us.
What does it mean to throw off that which hinders or the sin that entangles? What does it mean to truly, and completely do the work to rid ourselves of the things that keep us from running well the race set before us? After all, Jesus fought off being hindered and entangled by the enemy of our souls and he ran his race to perfection – and for our benefit.
“For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2 NIV)
I have a feeling I’m going to be housecleaning – and spirit cleaning – for a while. There’s a lot to look at in just these first two verses in Hebrews 12. So, join me as we do some deep cleaning.
God,
Thank you for those you have given us as examples in the faith – people in the Bible, relatives, friends, and co-laborers in the Kingdom today – who encourage us. Thank you for the purposes and plans you have for our lives and for your encouragement as we run our respective races. Help us to persevere in running the marathon obstacle courses, even with their agony and conflict, that have been set before us. Help us to run with passionate determination so we give ourselves fully to your destiny for us. Help us to allow you, Holy Spirit, to do the deep cleaning in our lives to remove obstacles and hindrances. For your joy and our peace we ask in Jesus’s name, Amen.
“As for us, we have all of these great witnesses who encircle us like clouds. So we must let go of every wound that has pierced us and the sin we so easily fall into. Then we will be able to run life’s marathon race with passion and determination, for the path has been already marked out before us. We look away from the natural realm and we focus our attention and expectation onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!” (Hebrews 12:1-2 TPT)
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” (Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT)