Great Cloud of Witnesses

Well, have these devotionals ministered to you? Have you found yourself dipping back into the annuls and deep recesses of your mind? Don’t linger long for there is work ahead and not behind. Enjoy this last day on the topic, “Freedom from Past Failures and Offenses” and purpose to commit this scripture to memory.

After a failure, try revisiting the lives of those in “the great cloud of witnesses” mentioned in Hebrews 12:1. Their failures and comebacks may become your inspiration to dust yourself off and get back on the course that has been set before you. Look at David, known as a godly King, committed adultery and murder; Peter, known as one of Christ’s loyal disciples, disowned His Lord to save his own life. Though we (just like the saints included in the great cloud of witnesses) would have wanted to avoid the times of shame, regret, isolation, etc. Those past failures and offenses have kingdom purpose.

Our all-knowing God knew we would need ready examples and rescue maps to give us direction after we blew it in the worst ways. Past failures and offenses serve to ultimately benefit us; they can be likened to a type of affliction (mentioned multiple times in Psalm 119). How should individuals of the Way crawl from beneath the holds of haunting and humiliating afflictions? Afflictions, we learn in Psalm 119, have the God-given power to bring us to ourselves; they cause us to find God’s favorite place for us, the place of humility. Afflictions are often the force behind our climb to the next level of faith.

We have certain assurances in Christ to help us regain fervor and embrace our triumphant position after offenses. We are Christ’s possession forever (Ephesians 2:10); He is our Strength and blessed Hope (Deuteronomy 31:8); Our expectation is only from Him (Psalm 27:13, 62:5); and all power belongs to God (Psalm 62:11, I Timothy 1:17). David still triumphed as he is mentioned in scripture as being a man after God’s heart (Acts 13:22); Peter became a mighty leader of the faith, as he was responsible for many souls coming to Christ (Acts 2:38). None of Satan’s strategies to discourage us (after a failure) have dominion to strip us of our eternal value. Hallelujah! We must not lose heart. We can still be used to victoriously declare the work of our Lord! Glory be to God!

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the way You love us. We bless You for Your ways of bringing us out of our points of depression and back to Your Love. You are our Lord, the One who causes us to triumph for Your good pleasure. Help us to embrace Your plan for our lives and to always be ready to give Your Name the glory and the honor it forever deserves. In Jesus’ Name-Amen!
By Sis. Lisa Williams