Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. Hebrews 12:3
We need Hebrews 11, especially when we are tempted to feel sorry for ourselves. Remember that these chapters were first written to Jewish believers who were enduring a tough time, as many of us are enduring tough times today.
Let’s summarize the flow of Hebrews 10 to 12 in order to get the big picture of what God is saying to us:
These are difficult days for you. You’ve come through a lot since you came to faith in Jesus (10:32). You have shown great resilience (10:34). But you’re not done yet. You have a long way to go. You need to endure (10:36). There’s only one way to endure and that is by faith: “My righteous one shall live by faith” (10:38).
Here’s what you need to know: “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (11:1). Think about what faith has enabled others to endure. You have had your property plundered, but others were reduced to living in dens and caves (11:38). You have been mocked, laughed at, and insulted, but others have been sawn in two (11:37). And think about Jesus, and what He had to endure: He was nailed to a cross (12:2).
You have endured hard things, and you have done well, but now you are getting discouraged. So, remember, others have faced far worse than you. In your struggle, you have not yet gotten to the point of shedding your own blood (12:4). Others have. They believed what God has revealed and trusted what God has promised, and by faith they endured.
You must run with endurance the race that is set before you (12:1). Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. Remember all that He endured and think about the glory that right now is His, and one day will be yours (12:2).
Read Hebrews 10:32–12:4. How did God encourage you?
