Today's Daily Lesson comes from Hebrews chapter 12 verses 1 through 4:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
We are coming to the end of the year. It's been a long one; and many of us are weary.
We've fought the good fight, we've kept the faith, but we haven't finished the race yet. There still a long course ahead, with so many obstacles in the path.
We are in a global pandemic. Russia has hacked our central nervous system. The President is refusing to concede the election. Many of us have lost loved ones whom we couldn't properly grieve. And in spite of the Black Lives Matter summer, the roots of racism in America have been nowhere near dug up.
We have a long ways to go. There is still so much struggle ahead.
We are weary.
So the Lesson comes to us today to say, "Do not lose heart. Do not give up. Do not give in."
That's what the devil want us to do. He and all the powers of sin and evil want us to give up and give in. So let's keep at it.
Remember, beloved, Jesus is ahead of us (thank God), and the saints -- living and departed -- are around us, and the angels surround us, and we've got miles to go before we sleep . . .
NOTE: We are reading the whole Bible through this hear. Tomorrow we will read the books 2 Peter and Jude.
Ryon Price is the Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.
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