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going on

Hebrews 12:7-13 (JDV)

Hebrews 12:7 Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. You see, what son is there that a father does not discipline?
Hebrews 12:8 But if you are without discipline – which all share – then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
Hebrews 12:9 Furthermore, we had human fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn’t we submit even more to the Father of breaths and live?
Hebrews 12:10 You see, they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but he does it for our benefit so that we can share his holiness.
Hebrews 12:11 No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Hebrews 12:12 Therefore, strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees,
Hebrews 12:13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed instead.

going on

James Bolick writes that “in the letter to the Hebrews, we are made aware that Christians grow tired and weary. The picture we are given in Hebrews 12:12, is one who was paralyzed and on the verge of total defeat. There are two forces warring against the believer. These two forces are paralyzing powers and have a paralyzing effect upon the Christian” (24). The two forces are external difficulties and internal weakness. The solutions? Looking to Jesus, and strengthening yourself through a commitment to running the race anyway.

Submitting to the Father is not giving up. It is going on.

Bolick James H. Sermon Outlines for Revival Preaching. Pulpit Library ed. Baker Book House 1986.