The Most Important Word in The English Language
“Therefore, 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. Let 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. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)
The most important word in the English language, apart from proper nouns, is relationship. You might think it would be love, but where is love going without a relationship? Relationships are the tracks on which love travels. The Great Commandment involves relationships – loving God and loving others. The writer of Hebrews offers clear insights for making the most of our relationships so that we experience all that God intended for our relationships to please Him. Here are a couple of insights from Hebrews 12 that will deepen our closest relationships:
Connect with a community of Christ followers. I’ve often thought about this “great cloud of witnesses” that surrounds us according to Hebrews 12:1. Who are they? I envision them like spotters in a race, looking down to cheer runners on to finish the race just as they finished theirs. I can almost hear them sometimes when I’m tired or discouraged and tempted to quit. They are shouting from heaven, saying, “Don’t quit!” “Never give up!” “You can make it!” “You can do it with God’s power!” I can’t prove this is the case. But one thing I can prove and that’s the benefit of being connected to a community of Christ’s followers here and now! There is no substitute for the local church! Every one of us needs to surround ourselves with Christ-filled encouragers. People just like you who come alongside you to hold you up in prayer with an encouraging word. I challenge you to join a local church if you haven’t done so already. Join a small group to study God’s Word together and a local church to worship with other Christ followers. Connect with a community of Christ followers, and you will take your relationships to another level!
We invite you to consider Woodlands Church as your church home, where you can connect with a community of Christ followers going in the same direction. Join us for lunch this Sunday following the final morning service at any of our Woodlands Church campuses and check out the benefits of membership at our Membership Class. You can register now. The lunch is free, and we have classes for the whole family. Take a step of faith this fall and deepen your relationship with God and others. All those attending this class will become part of our historic Foundational Membership at Woodlands Church as we stretch and expand with our upcoming Woodlands Church downtown Houston campus.
Another way to deepen our closest relationships is found in the Hebrews 12:2.
Look past the current pain and see a future hope. There is no greater example of this than Jesus. Verse two in Hebrews 12 tells us to “… fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross ….”
What was the joy set before Him that gave Him the strength to endure the cross with all its pain and suffering? The joy set before Him was you! Jesus looked beyond the pain of the cross to see the joy ahead – the joy of a people that would be forgiven and reconciled to God through His death! People who would form the church He came to build. When you look to Jesus, He fills you with hope! Hope has a name! His name is Jesus! The weeping prophet, Jeremiah, once said, “Yet hope returns when I remember this one thing: the Lord’s unfailing love and mercy still continue, fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunshine. The Lord is all I have, and so in Him I put my hope.” (Lamentations 3:21-24 TEV)
You can make the most of your relationships and take them to a new depth of intimacy when you focus on Christ to meet your deepest needs and connect with a community of Christ followers! God designed you for community. Make the most of it! Join us this Sunday for Worship and stay after the final service for our membership class to connect with others. If you’re unable to join in person, you can connect online at live.wc.org.
Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.
Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.