Year 9, Day 116: Hebrews 12

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Hebrews 12 begins with a look at suffering.  For the Christian, this is an important conversation to have and context to understand.  To follow Christ will put us at odds with the world.  To follow Christ will put us at odds with ourselves.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer speaks frequently in his writings about what it means to follow Christ.  He says that “when Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die.”  To follow Christ means that our own desires and our own wants – much less the desires and the wants of the world – will need to be evaluated against the was of God.  This process often brings about suffering, strife, turmoil, etc.

The author’s point, though, is unexpected.  He tells us that we should not worry when struggle comes our way.  In fact, we should expect it and embrace it.  After all, God expertly uses struggle to teach us.  Through struggle, we gain perspective, endurance, wisdom, and several other good traits.  As the author of Hebrews says, God disciplines us for our own good, that we may share in His holiness.

All too often we think that struggle means God has abandoned us.  In fact, quite often it is through struggle that God has drawn the closest.  He walks with us, shares with us, and even carries us through struggle.  It is in the midst of struggle that we can often see God the most active in our life in hindsight.

None of us likes struggle, strife and turmoil.  However, I’d not like to see what sort of man I’d be today if I never had struggle, strife, or turmoil in my life.

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