05 Apr 2010, Posted by spittingimage in General, No Comments.

WORTHY IS THE LAMB

Worthy Is The Lamb

Hebrews
12 1Therefore, since we are
surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily
entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus,
the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured
the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of
God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you
will not grow weary and lose heart. 4In your struggle against sin, you have not
yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And you have forgotten that
word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's
discipline, and do not
lose heart when he rebukes you, 6because the Lord disciplines those he
loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."[a] 7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For
what son is not disciplined by his father? 8If you are not disciplined (and
everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true
sons. 9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we
respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10Our
fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God
disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11No discipline
seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a
harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. 12Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and
weak knees. 13"Make level paths for your feet,"[b] so that the lame
may not be disabled, but rather healed. 14Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be
holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15See to it that no one
misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and
defile many. 16See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau,
who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.
17Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was
rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing
with tears. 18You have not come to a
mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom
and storm; 19to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those
who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20because they
could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the
mountain, it must be stoned."[c] 21The sight was so terrifying that Moses
said, "I am trembling with fear."[d] 22But you have come to Mount Zion, to the
heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon
thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23to the church of the firstborn, whose
names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the
spirits of righteous men made perfect, 24to Jesus the mediator of a new
covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood
of Abel. 25See to it that you
do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused
him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him
who warns us from heaven? 26At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he
has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the
heavens."[e] 27The words "once more" indicate the removing of
what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may
remain. 28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that
cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with
reverence and awe, 29for our "God is a consuming fire."[f]