Hebrews 12:1-3
“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. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV
We are not alone in this journey of faith, we have a great multitude of witnesses in those who have gone before us, upon whose shoulders we stand. The point is that Christ can be trusted, we can have a thriving faith in Him regardless of what we have been through or will face. Others have trusted in Christ and so can we.
We are able to throw off whatever hinders and slows us down, have our sins removed so we can not only enter the race and run it, but, keep running it, finish it, and even win it. To do this is really simple. We keep our focus on the prize and reason, our purpose who goes before us Christ as Lord as all that we have and are, faith, and our lives depend on Him.
Jesus proved Himself by being willing to die for us, so we can live for Him. This gives us great joy and purpose for living. Just think about all that Christ did and endured for us. Now think about how you will live in response, with gratitude, so you do not become weary and give up with life or the fight against sin.
Jesus wants us to have a burden free faith. His desire is for us to cast away all the burdens that we carry. He urges us to cast off the sins that cling so closely to us. Jesus wants us to see the joy that lies ahead through His death on the cross so that we would not give up.
We are fully a piece of God journeying through this world. Our purpose in life is to realize it, understand who we are in Christ, and live out the unique race that is marked out for us. If we are trapped, or focused or distracted by something that is not our unique calling, then that seems to be a perfect way to move us off what God has called us to be.
Jesus is our model. Jesus is where we need to focus. We need to keep our eyes on Him, and not the pain and challenges all around us. He is calling us to come to Him, to draw near and follow Him.
Remember what happened to Peter? We need to celebrate that Peter stood up and requested to be called out. No other disciple took that step. We can learn that when we take our eyes off Jesus, when we are not centered on His calling, then we see what happens. We will sink in our storms.
There is nothing we will face in the world, nothing in our circumstances that will ever compare to what Jesus experienced. We need to put our pain, our trials, and our circumstances in perspective, and get a bit of a reality check.
Jesus is our model. Let’s go back to the perspective on sin. Realizing that Satan wants to take us out by distracting us, by shifting our view and vision of who we are off of the reality of who God says we are.
Where are you in your life right now? Do you have a distorted view of yourself? Are you trapped in a mindset that is not of Christ? Let us not forget The fuller, deeper meaning of sin has to do with separation or disconnection from our true identity.
In His goodness, Christ is both our example and companion. Calling us to the race marked for each of us and sustaining us through each stride. And as Charles Spurgeon said, “He stands with us at the starting point, and earnestly says to us, not “run,” but “let us run”.
Hang in there, run your race to the end. Take your seat with the other finishers and begin to cheer on the current runners. Or consider running alongside a struggling friend, helping them to cross the finish line. When your race is finished, take your place in the stands with that great cloud of witnesses!!!
Father, thank You for this day and the many people of faith in Scripture who bear witness that Your Word is trustworthy and true. Lord, let Your abundant blessings fall from the windows of heaven upon my friend and family today. In the trials and difficulties of our lives, help us to keep trusting You like the great cloud of witnesses. Lord, help us to discard every encumbrance that may hinder our Christian progress and witness and give us perseverance as we press toward the final goal. May we patiently endure all the obstacles in life in the power of the Holy Spirit and help us to be a living witness to Your Word of truth to all today.
Father, we love You. Amen. !
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