Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. (Heb. 12:1)
Expanded Passage: Hebrews 11:1-16; 12:1-3
For the past two years, every Thursday morning I have gathered with five other men for coffee. It started as a way to hang out and reconnect post-Covid and centered around reading a book to help us become better husbands, fathers, and friends. It grew into us reading Scripture together, celebrating our wins, and supporting one another when life gets hard. As we got closer we began to confess our sins to one another, addressing the parts of ourselves that we keep hidden from everyone else. I can say without hesitation that each man in that group is a better version of themselves today than they were two years ago. We have each been throwing off the sins that so easily entangle and seeking to love our Lord, our families, and our neighbors more intentionally. These five men are my closest cloud of witnesses.
In Hebrews 11, we are reminded of heroes of the faith: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, and many more. The author reminds us of these heroes to inspire us to live in faith as they did. When we add a community of the faithful to those historic saints, we have all we need to press on when living by faith gets hard. Where in your life are you already supported and uplifted by fellow Christ followers?
Seek the comfort and support of a cloud of witnesses.
Aaron Wilkinson is an ordained minister in The Wesleyan Church and Chair of the Department of Business and Economics at Huntington University.
© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
