Hebrews 12...a pattern for the believer

Hebrews 12 gives wonderful insight into the spiritual growth and maturity of a believer.

When reading passages of scripture one of the things that usually catches this blogger's attention is pattern.  By unction of the Holy Spirit when reading His Word this is how I came to the following understanding.

The life of a believer is full of ups and downs, peaks and valleys.  We understand the law of sowing and reaping but there is a deeper truth and pattern that emerges from Hebrews 12.
First, based on the previous post regarding weariness, one would ask, "is that all there is in the life of faith?"  This is why Hebrews 12.11 grabbed my attention.

Following the lesson on "chastening" are these words..."afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness." My heart is always desiring that "peace."  While we understand there is a "peace that passeth all understanding," there is a pattern before and after such peace.  Obviously this peace can be disturbed because the writer says to, "lift up the hands which hang down."
  
It is also explained in verse 20 that the children of God "could not endure that which was commanded." They knew that to touch the Holy Mount and things of God was to die.  It was so terrible to see the mountain quake with thunderings and shakings that even "Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake." Again, to enter into the presence of the Lord without a remedy is death!  Ahh, but there is a remedy; verse 22 says we can come "unto Mt Zion...the city of the living God, the heavenyly Jerusalem..." Then, we are told how.

Hebrews 12.24 gives the answer to entering into the Lord's presence: "And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things..."  After this answer, a warning; "See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh." (12.25)

So, here is the pattern I see in this passage of Hebrews:

• .11  "Chastening yields peaceable fruit"
• .12  then praise - "lift up hands"
• .14  which brings more "peace and holiness"
• .20  His way and law are hard to endure during spiritual growth - but enduring yields...
• .22  hope when a view of things clean, right and pure. See Mt Zion - the city where God lives
• .24  the presence of "Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant" (His blood)
• .25  WARNING!: "See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh." 

                 The Reward?

• .28  "a kingdom which cannot be moved" or shaken because of grace

                The Admonition,once more

•       "serve God acceptably with reverance and godly fear."

Hebrews 8.5 explains that these things are an "example and shadow of heavenly things..." and we are to "See...that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount."
Obviously, we are not perfect and can never be until we are in our glorified bodies. But we are to "strive" (Lk 13.24) to be so and to be as "perfect" as possible (Phil 3.15). Also, "he remembereth that we are dust." (Ps 103.14)
So, don't beat yourself up when you mess up.  "Get back in the saddle," ask forgiveness and go again.
It is my hope and prayer that any reader of this blog gets at least a little illumination and help on the journey home.  God bless and "Press along, weary pilgrim..."