Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

December7
Sunday


JOHNNY'S RACE

READ:
Hebrews 10:19-25
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Comfort each other
and edify one another.
_1 Thessalonians 5:11
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When 19-year-old Johnny Agar finished the 5k race, he had a lot of people behind him__family members and friends who were celebrating his accomplishment.

Johnny has cerebral palsy, which makes physical activity difficult. Btu he and his dad, Jeff, have teamed up to compete in many races_Dad pushing and johnny riding. But one day, Johnny wanted to finish by himself. Halfway through the race, his dad took him out of his cart, helped him to his walker, and assisted Johnny as he completed the race on his own two feet. That led to a major celebration as friends and family cheered his accomplishment. "It made it easier for me to do it with them behind me," Johnny told a reporter. "The encouragement is what drove me."

Isn't that what christ-followers are meant to do? Hebrews 10:24 reminds us, "Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds (NIV). As we model the love of our Savior (John 13:34-35), imagine the difference it could make if we all set out to encourage each other__if we always knew that behind us we had a group of friends cheering us on. If we took the words "comfort each other and edify one another" (1 Thess. 5:11) seriously, the race would be easier for all of us. __Dave Branon

`````````````````Help us, Lord, not to think that we can go through life``````````````````
```````````````````without others. Cure us of our independent spirit.```````````````````
``````````````````````````use us to bless others and humble us````````````````````````
```````````````````````````````to accept encouragement.``````````````````````````
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A word of encouragement can make the difference
between giving up or going on.

************************************Today's Bible Reading __ Hebrews 10:19-25**********************************

19 Therefroe, brethren,
having boldness to enter the
Holiest by the blood of
Jesus, 20 by a new and
living way which He
consecrated fro us, through
the veil, that is, His flesh,

21 and having a High Priest
over the house of God,

22 let us draw near with a
true heart in full assurance
of faith, having our hearts
sprinkled from an evil
conscience and our bodies
washed with pure water.

21 Let us hold fast the
confession of our hope
without wavering, for He
who promised is faithful.

24 and let us consider one
another in order to stir up
love and good works, 23 not
forsaking the assembling of
ourselves together, as is the
manner of some, but
exhorting one another, and
so much the more as you
see the Day approaching.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The "Holiest" (Heb. 10:19) was a reference to the Holy of Holies
in ancient Israel's tabernacle and temple. It was viewed as the
dwelling place of God among His people and could only be
entered once a year, and then only by the high priest. On the Day
of Atonement, the high priest would take the blood of the sacrifice
into the Holy of Holies to atone for the people's sins for another
year. However, the work of our High Priest, Jesus, is so complete
that we now have the freedom to enter into God's presence at any
time. In fact, we can enter boldly because as a result of Christ's
sacrifice we are welcomed into the Father's presence.