No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11 (HCSB)
 

Our spiritual journey with Jesus requires endurance, focus, and discipline. The writer of Hebrews has written this letter so that Christians will not give up or grow weary. He described others who have victoriously finished their spiritual race to encourage present day Christians to keep running and finish their race.

 

 But he also describes the reality of trials, hardships, and suffering one will face. For the Christian, these difficulties are not punishments, but discipline (education and training) to help one keep running - running to win.

 

Our discipline through suffering and trials is not pleasant. No trials are pleasant. No difficulties are enjoyable. It is painful. But the purpose is to yield the fruit of righteousness if we allow ourselves to be trained by it. God does works in our lives and on our hearts through the good and the challenging.

 

Will you submit to His discipline as a disciple of Christ, and be determined to run to win?

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14

As we run the Christian  race, what is our goal?  The writer explained a twofold goal for the Hebrew believers in 12:14.  Peace with all people, and holiness before the Lord.

Earlier in verse 11, the writer referenced a similar thought as he wrote about the peacable fruit of righteousness.  This twofold goal reminds us of our Lord's high priestly ministry -- King of peace and King of righteousness.  Heb. 7:1-12

Therefore as we run this race, let us run with diligence, pursuing peace before men and holiness before the Lord.

For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, 22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem… Hebrews 12:18a, 22a

 

Throughout the letter to the Hebrew, the writer admonishes his readers to run to win. Yet as one runs the grace race, sometimes we need to be reminded where the real source of our strength comes. We need strength that will enable us to run to finish well.

 

That strength does not come from Mt. Sinai. Mt. Sinai represents The Law of Moses and the Old Covenant - which cannot save or strengthen one in the grace race. The Law points us to a new and better way. Therefore we look to Mt. Zion. Mt. Zion represents the grace of the Gospel and the new or better Covenant, which does provide salvation and strength through Christ. Christ fulfilled the Mt. Sinai requirements and sacrificed His life and now calls those who will follow Him to Mt. Zion - not the earthly city of Zion, but the heavenly city of God.

 

Thankfully, we have Christ, the better Priest, the better sacrifice, who provides the better covenant. Therefore we can go with confidence before the throne of God, as written earlier in Hebrews 4:16. But just as with Israel, we have a choice which way to turn - Mt. Sinai or Mt. Zion. Will you trust in Sinai, what you can do or in Zion, what Christ has done?