We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; in deed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul ... if there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Run with patience the race set before us



Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. (Hebrews 12: 1)
 Paul is talking about repentance here, getting rid of the burdens that hold us back and keeping the goal in sight.  I like where he says, “despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him. For whom the Lord loveth he chastenth … If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons, for what son is he whom the father chastenth not?” (Hebrew 12:6&7)
In other words he corrects those that he loves and cares for. Maybe this is because they are those who love him and are willing to correct their course. I don’t think, and this is just me, that he doesn’t love those who won’t listen. After all did he not take upon himself the sins of all of us despite our agency to accept him or not, but we all need correction on a daily bases. It is those who love him who will respond. He is so gentle with his corrections. One thing at a time, forgiving slips as long as we’re trying, encourages us with an out pouring of the Spirit as we grow closer to him. We are all struggling here, and so far away from the goal so let us all lay aside the weight and run with patience the race.      

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