“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” ( Hebrews 12:1).
Clouds are visible mass of condensed watery vapor floating in the atmosphere, typically high above the general level of the ground. For us below we can say due to their advantage point clouds provide a good oversight for our walk. In our leading verse the Apostle Paul used them as a metaphor to make a point of beloved witnesses around us who encourage and strengthen us in our Christian walk.
While any believer in Christ may on occasion rely on his gifts to grow in faith everyone needs the support and fellowship of others. As it is pointed, “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near” ( Hebrews 10:25). Further, Proverbs says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” ( 27:17). These believers around us are a “cloud of witness” who spur us on to yonder.
Through the time of the Covid pandemic many of us were locked up in isolation as a deterrent against infection. However, once the doors were open there was an eagerness for many of us to go out and meet others. This was true also of many believers for purposes of enriching our faith through shared testimonies and communal rejoicing and praise of our living God.
The cloud of witnesses are one of the blessings God has given us to mature in faith. They help us unburden whatever weight might be pulling us down, so as to stand straight and persevere on in our faith walk.
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, I thank you for the cloud of witness you have gathered around me to strengthen me in my faith and may I profit from these faithful witness, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
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27/04/2024 - 28/04/2024 All day“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God” (Psalm 42:1).
In the wildlife, a common feature is predatory animals chasing after less ferocious ones, which on a bad day become good dinner. Through the savannah plains of Africa the antelope tends to suffer that fate. After a long chase from a mighty lion, cheetah or leopard; antelopes that survive tend to retreat to a fresh water spot. There they gladly refresh their quench with streams of water.
King David, must have been more familiar with deer, as there are more common in the Northern Hemisphere. For us in the tropics we can substitute the deer with our antelope, commonly chased by predators. After a long chase, of course all pant for pints of water.
The significance of this metaphor is that whenever we encounter any situation that puts us on a chase, where do we run to! Habakuk 3:19 says, “The Lord God give my strength. He helps me run fast like deer. He leads me safely on the mountains” (Habakuk 3:19).
Two things of note here. The Lord can make us run as fast as the fastest antelope being chased by a predator to a well of safety. And of course, as we run, we have that the well of God to end up to and refresh ourselves! This is why David wrote, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:11).
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today like the antelopes of the wildlife I run to you, to that well of life, which refreshes my soul, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
