Theme: SELF APPRAISAL
Text: “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12: 1,2.
Comment: The Bible states that before Satan was cast down to the earth his stock-in-trade was to accuse the faithful “before our God day and night’. (Revelation 12: 10) Today, he has made so many people on earth to be accusers of God’s children, who go about as tale-bearers, false witnesses, false accusers, and opposers of the Truth – “deceiving and being deceived”. They constitute stumbling blocks set up for the righteous to trip over and fall. The Psalmist described them thus: ‘Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil. They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul. Shall they escape by iniquity? In thine anger cast down the people, O God’ (Psalm 56: 5-7) Sin cuts one off from God’s presence, making one unfit for the Kingdom, and blocking one’s prayers to God. What befell Cain is a ready example. (Genesis 4: 6,7). Therefore, the learned Apostle’s advice as in the text for today is very important to us.
In time past we indulged in sins, but now we have to mortify or make our members dead to sin, put on the new man and set our affection on things above. We should put off anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communications, lying, etc. (Colossians 3: 5-10) We should be temperate in all things. – 1 Corinthians 9: 25.