Many people start well, but give up in discouragement. In context, the apostle had just written about sowing to the Spirit and not to the flesh (vs. 7-8) with particular application made to supporting the teaching ministry of the Word. We need to live the grace-filled life and not fall back into fleshly living by religious regulation or to self-centered living of the flesh

God reminds us to keep doing the “good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Eph 2:10). The book of Hebrews is built on the premise that the Jewish believers were being tempted to give up the way of God’s rest and go back to the old way of effort through law and ritual and Old Testament priestly sacrifices. “Do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised” (Heb10:35-36).

Men and women by the churchload, have become demoralized, spiritually desensitized, and soulishly numb to the important things of God. Once they were on fire, enthusiastic about following God as they pressed on “toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:14). They saw God answering prayer in providing financial support for short-term missions trips. They found boldness in their youth to witness at the flag pole with scores of other teens. They discovered the emotional charge of Christian music in their language of song that moved them inwardly.

But now life goes on, they settle down into adulthood and its pressures and responsibilities. Answered prayer seems less frequent, simple faith of youth no longer satisfies, and efforts to rekindle the young vibrancy of life when God seemed so real fall flat. People give up by settling for the religious status quo of “Evangelicalism,” seeking out the spiritual-emotional high that continues to be elusive, but for the few elated moments with just the right music, atmosphere and relevant contemporary pop preacher. Yet, they are giving up by giving in to a popularized contemporary “feel good and spiritual” kind of religious experience.

Hebrews complements our passage today, “… let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb 12:1b-2).