"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Wednesday, 24 August 2016 with Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-8, 15-16

"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Wednesday, 24 August 2016
with Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-8, 15-16

Hebrews 12:1 So then, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us, too, put aside every impediment — that is, the sin which easily hampers our forward movement — and keep running with endurance in the contest set before us, 2 looking away to the Initiator and Completer of that trusting,[Hebrews 12:2 Habakkuk 2:4] Yeshua — who, in exchange for obtaining the joy set before him, endured execution on a stake as a criminal, scorning the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.[Hebrews 12:2 Psalm 110:1] 3 Yes, think about him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you won’t grow tired or become despondent. 4 You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in the contest against sin.
5 Also you have forgotten the counsel which speaks with you as sons:
“My son, don’t despise the discipline of Adonai
or become despondent when he corrects you.
6 For Adonai disciplines those he loves
and whips everyone he accepts as a son.”[Hebrews 12:6 Proverbs 3:11–12]
7 Regard your endurance as discipline; God is dealing with you as sons. For what son goes undisciplined by his father? 8 All legitimate sons undergo discipline; so if you don’t, you’re a mamzer and not a son!
15 See to it that no one misses out on God’s grace, that no root of bitterness[Hebrews 12:15 Deuteronomy 29:17(18)] springing up causes trouble and thus contaminates many, 16 and that no one is sexually immoral, or godless like Esav, who in exchange for a single meal gave up his rights as the firstborn.[Complete Jewish Bible]
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We are not alone. Because the gospel for this week calls us to radical hospitality today we remember the great cloud of witnesses who have brought the poor and persecuted to tables full of food and love. Dietrich Bonhoeffer lived God's love for our Jewish cousins and resisted Nazi genocide. Dorothy Day started the Catholic worker movement among the poor in New York City. Mother Teresa saw the lepers of Calcutta as Jesus himself. Lutheran Social Services and Lutheran World Relief gather all of us and our gifts in this great cloud of witnesses.
Closer to home people we know see to it that anyone who is grieving gets food and support for those hard steps away from a fresh grave. The congregations I served faithfully equipped me to buy meals, gas or emergency relief for any neighbor who came by in special need. All of these are reminders of Jesus who insisted on eating with tax collectors and sinners. We are not alone. As part of a great cloud of witnesses we work to help everyone feel the grace God has poured out for them.
Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest and let these gifts to us be blessed. Amen.
Paul Rohde, '82
Campus Pastor, Augustana University, Sioux Falls, S.D. 
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,
2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.
4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as children-- "My child, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, or lose heart when you are punished by him;
6 for the Lord disciplines those whom he loves, and chastises every child whom he accepts."
7 Endure trials for the sake of discipline. God is treating you as children; for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline?
8 If you do not have that discipline in which all children share, then you are illegitimate and not his children...
15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and through it many become defiled.
16 See to it that no one becomes like Esau, an immoral and godless person, who sold his birthright for a single meal.[New Revised Standard Version
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