From Friday March 26...
Hebrews 11 and 12:1 "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 hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us."
Hebrews chapter 11 is often called the "Hall of Faith." Similar to a hall of fame, this passage lists a series of faithful followers of God including Abraham, Jacob and Moses. Like baseball legends enshrined in Cooperstown, these giants of the faith are remembered here in Hebrews 11. They are commended for their life of faith and obedeince to God. In chapter 12, the writer continues and says that we are surrounded by this great "crowd of witnesses", that is the list in chapter 11. Another translation refers to this as a great "cloud of witnesses."
The writer of Hebrews goes on and on about these heroes of the faith and then proclaims that we are surrounded by them! We are surrounded by them much like a cloud may surround a mountain. This tells me that we are not alone. Our faith is not just about us. There are others who have gone before us. Many others blazed the trail and broke the ground for us. We are continuing the work they began. As we make ripples in our communities we must remember we are not alone, but rather we are part of a movement of God that began long ago and that many have gone before us. We are simply continuing the giant ripple.
Dear Jesus, thank you for our cloud of witnesses. Help us remember what they started as we make our ripples. Amen.
