Cloud of Witnesses: Laxity Rhapsody

"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.” ~Hebrews 12:1

Have you ever noticed how watching someone excel at their craft makes you want to try harder? Whether it's an athlete breaking records or a musician mastering their instrument, excellence inspires excellence. This same principle should apply in our spiritual lives.

Thomas à Kempis understood this when he wrote about the saints in "The Imitation of Christ." He wrote, “They [the Saints] were given as an example for all religious, and their power to stimulate us to perfection ought to be greater than that of the lukewarm to tempt us to laxity” (pg 14). He rightly points out that saints (even our contemporaries) who live virtuously, should catalyze us toward spiritual growth which should be stronger than the pull of lukewarm faith that tempts us toward laziness, something the writer of Hebrews clearly states in chapter 12.

Learning from the Cloud of Witnesses

Think about Paul, who endured shipwrecks, beatings, and imprisonment yet wrote from a jail cell: "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4). Or consider Stephen, who while being stoned to death, prayed for his killers' forgiveness (Acts 7:60).

Their examples aren't meant to make us feel inadequate but to spark something in us—to show us what's possible when ordinary people surrender fully to God.

Obviously, it’s easier to be a lukewarm Christian even though it offers us nothing but comfort in mediocrity. Jesus himself had strong words about halfhearted commitment: "So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth" (Revelation 3:16). The saints weren't superhuman. James 5:17 reminds us that Elijah "was a human being, even as we are." What set them apart was their wholehearted "yes" to God. Peter encourages us: "As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do" (1 Peter 1:14-15).

Trading Lukewarm Comfort for a Wholehearted Yes

Today's step: Choose one saint or biblical figure whose story resonates with you. Read about their life and struggles. Then identify one quality they demonstrated—perhaps courage, generosity, or perseverance—and pray specifically for God to develop that quality in you this week. Write it down somewhere you'll see daily, and at the end of each day, reflect on moments when you had the opportunity to practice this virtue.

Remember, the goal isn't to imitate other humans, but to let their examples point us toward Christ, who alone transforms us from the inside out.

Always improve the present moment.