Morning by Morning, October 2, 2026 — This Great Cloud of Witnesses” Is Not “Apart from Us”
Good morning, Lord Jesus. You draw near to the brokenhearted and save the crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18). No matter what we go through in this heart-breaking world, You are the God who heals the brokenhearted and sets the captives free, comforting us and freeing us and even redeeming all that happens to us, as we go through it with You by our side and Your Spirit in our hearts. …
As I was still pondering the passing of a dear friend of mine this morning, this word of encouragement and hope rises in my heart:
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).
My friend is now part of this great “cloud of witnesses.” He’s been delivered through the grip of death and into Your arms of love.
“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37-39).
“Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? … Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).
This great “cloud of witnesses” who surround us refers back to the immediately preceding verses of Hebrews Chapter 11, listing our forefathers and forerunners in the faith, who lived out their calling and destiny on earth and have now taken their place in Your Presence in the glory of Heaven (Hebrews 11:1-40). Many call it “The Hall of Faith” because they are witnesses, examples, and heroes of faith, whose lives inspire us to be more like You. For as You are, so are we to be in our world (1 John 4:17).
It seems, in a way, this great “cloud of witnesses” are looking on, cheering us on, that we might fulfill our calling and our destiny in You during these times allotted to us:
“And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us” (Hebrews 11:39-40).
That “apart from us” part of Your Word seems to speak of a unity of the Spirit, an intertwining of our lives throughout generations. It’s a unity of the Spirit not only in our generation, but throughout every generation. We’re not limited to be just the Body of Christ in our times, but we are the Body of Christ throughout all time.
“For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many” (1 Corinthians 12:12-14).
We are “many.” We are united. We are one in the Spirit and one in the Lord, in our times and throughout all times. You have “redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and nation” throughout every generation (Revelation 5:9).
So as we live out our “part,” doing our part in our times, let us remember and honor those who have gone before us who did their “part” in their times. Whether those who have passed or those who are to come or those who labor in the love of God among the harvest fields of our present day, they are not “apart from us.” We are of “one Spirit” and “one body.”
As those who have gone before us now cheer us on as “witnesses” of our lives, may their hearts be filled with joy as they witness Your glory being displayed and honored through our lives. May our lives honor both You and them in this way. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged this day. In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
My friend, may you run your race looking unto Jesus, cheered on by the great cloud of witnesses of those who have gone before us in the faith, to the glory of God, in Jesus' name. God bless you, my friend! And you have a great day!
Click Here to Listen to Today's Prayer: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2375760
Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
502 North Milam Street
Fredericksburg, Texas 78624
Please share this word to encourage a friend! Anyone can sign up for free at: https://messiah-ministries.org
My Books on Inner Healing, Spiritual Freedom and Spiritual Intimacy with God are Available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/tommyhays
“Setting hearts free to be all you were created to be —Free to Be Like Jesus— secure in your identity, growing in maturity, fulfilling your destiny"
https://messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute | 
