02-04-2026 PART 2: Encouraged Through Discipline: Running the Race with Our Eyes on Jesus

Section 1

Hebrews 12 calls believers to a focused, persevering faith by fixing their eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. The image is clear and purposeful: the Christian life is a race, and endurance depends on where attention is placed. Jesus endured rejection, suffering, and the cross itself by keeping His vision anchored in the joy set before Him. His own creation rejected Him, yet He did not lose heart or abandon the mission. This perspective reframes hardship, reminding believers that discouragement grows when focus drifts, but strength returns when attention is redirected to Christ. He endured far more than any believer ever will, and His example provides both motivation and direction for continuing forward.

Section 2

The passage then confronts the reality of sin, emphasizing that believers are redeemed from sin’s penalty but are still learning to overcome its power. Sin is described as something that entangles, not owns, the believer, and Scripture makes clear that it has no rightful claim over those in Christ. Romans teaches that believers do not owe sin anything and do not need to present themselves as instruments of unrighteousness. Sin behaves like a trespasser, lingering quietly and growing if tolerated, but it can and should be removed through the authority of Jesus Christ. The reminder that believers have not resisted sin to the point of shedding blood is not condemnation, but an honest call to recognize that more effort, vigilance, and dependence on God are possible and necessary.

Section 3

Hebrews 12 then introduces what it explicitly calls a “word of encouragement,” though it may not feel encouraging at first: the discipline of the Lord. God’s discipline is not rejection or punishment, but confirmation of belonging. He disciplines His children precisely because they are His. Far from being discouraging, discipline is evidence of God’s commitment, care, and refusal to abandon His people to stagnation or destruction. While discipline may bring discomfort, it also brings growth, clarity, and renewed courage. The encouragement lies in this truth: God is actively involved, shaping His children with intention and love. His correction is not meant to crush hearts, but to strengthen them, proving that those He disciplines are those He calls His own.