Inspiration

“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. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV)

When reading Scripture and coming to a “therefore,” you need to ask, what is the therefore there for?  And the answer will always take you back to what has been previously written.  The writer is telling you that what he is about to write hinges on what he has just previously written. In this case, the writer just spent an entire chapter recounting the amazing faith of believers in the Old Testament and on into their own century. Now he says to his audience, because of the faithful way these people lived, the great examples of their lives, be inspired to live lives of faithfulness to the Lord, persevering through hardship and trials, never giving up.

It is a human trait that we need the inspiration of others to take us off the wide path of mediocre and purposeless living onto the much narrower path of a meaningful and eternally significant way of life.  The Hebrew writer recognized this and wrote of the example of many faithful believers who followed the Lord with passion and perseverance.  

Who are the believers that inspire you?  Do you have anyone you look up to in the faith, who inspires you by his or her example?  Anyone whose faith you can seek to emulate?  If not, then you are at a distinct disadvantage in staying on that narrow path.  To encourage us, we need the witness of others who live or have lived lives fully committed to the Lord.

Today, seek out those whose lives are testimonies of faith.  Draw inspiration from their example, and seek to emulate it.  They may be on your campus, in your hometown, or on the pages of a book.  Wherever they are, their witness is waiting to inspire you, to ignite the flames of passion to live a life full of eternal meaning and purpose.

© Jim Musser 2017