I am very encouraged when I read Hebrews 12:1, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…
The emphasis in this passage is that of being surrounded by a crowd that is towering about and above them. The cloud describes not only a great number of people but also the unity of the crowd in their witness. Part of this crowd consists of the believers described in Hebrews 11, but also believers throughout the centuries. That is who is watching us.
We need to run with patient endurance the race, contest or struggle, which God has set before us. The word endurance is the ability to withstand hardship or adversity especially the ability to sustain a prolonged stressful effort or activity . Further, endurance is the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith by even the greatest trials and sufferings.
You get the picture, we’re all in a race or struggle and we need to have endurance for what God has for us and not give up. We cannot and must not give up. The people on your campus are way too valuable to God and we carry the message that will give them eternal life, should they decide to accept Christ into their hearts, to forgive them of their sins. What a great mission we’ve been given from God.
This week our encouragement to you is to go and find anyone who once attended your meetings/Bible studies and invite them back. Ask them if there is anything we can do to help them. Sometimes when someone feels like somebody cares enough to call, they may try to come back. Without the fellowship and encouragement of other believers, the chance of living out the dynamic Christian life is greatly compromised.
Make a list of everyone who you’ve not seen for a while, pass them out to people in the Bible study, and encourage everyone to pitch in and call those who have not been to the meetings in a while. We’re about helping people grow in their relationship with God, become leaders in His kingdom, and allow God to use them to make a difference on campus. Win-Build-Send, that’s what we’re all about. Go for it!
Talk to you next week,
Ben Rivera/The GodSquad Team