Perfecter of Our Faith

MEMORY SELECTION: “Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” —Hebrews 12:1,2

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 12:1-13

THE Apostle Paul, in reviewing in his mind the wonderful examples of faith recounted in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, begins the discussion of our development in faith and character by reminding us of those faithful ones in the past. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.” (Heb. 12:1, RSV) The thought of the great cloud of witnesses is that of examples of faith in witnessing. The Apostle James expresses the thought, “Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.” (James 5:10) The Greek word translated witness means to testify.

God, in his dealings with the nation of Israel, found it necessary from time to time to communicate with them. He therefore raised up prophets and servants and gave them the message which was to be conveyed to the people. Very often this was an unpopular pronouncement and, as a result, the messengers were persecuted and afflicted. Regardless of this, they were faithful.

Jesus, after he was spirit-begotten at the river Jordan, was also given a message to proclaim—the message of the Gospel as outlined in Isaiah 61:1,2. “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” This message from the Lord was also opposed by the leaders of the people, and as a result, Jesus was persecuted and afflicted and eventually put to death on Calvary’s cross.

In advising the footstep followers of Jesus to look to Him as their example, as they too are required to suffer because of witnessing to the Gospel, the apostle states: “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. For consider him that endured such contradiction [opposition] of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” (Heb. 12:2,3) The joy set before Jesus was the prospect of being the instrument the Heavenly Father would use to bring to fruition the glorious promises of the Gospel message. This same joy is the proper motivating force of the footstep followers of Jesus, and just as the prospect of bringing blessings to all the families of the earth was a sustaining force to Jesus, so should it be for us.

As the footstep followers of Jesus are confronted with the opposition of sinners when they proclaim the Gospel they are to consider Jesus and his victory over the forces of evil—Jesus was victorious even to death on the cross—and so must all of those who would walk in this narrow way be faithful unto death. Jesus, when he sent his disciples out to preach the Gospel of the kingdom, warned them that they would face opposition. He said, “The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?”—Matt. 10:24,25

It is not an easy matter to be faithful under trials and testings, but those who would walk in this narrow way of sacrifice must remember that it is the Heavenly Father’s way of developing and testing and proving his children. The apostle states: “Ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” But the result of these experiences is set forth by the apostle as follows: “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”—Heb. 12:5,6,11

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