Read Hebrews 12:1-3
Many of the terms used in Hebrews 12 are athletic
terms, beginning with the word translated “witnesses.” This does not refer to
spectators, but knowledgeable people who were placed along the route of a
cross-country race to keep the racers on course and confirm that they were
going the right way. The men and women
of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11 are some of the witnesses the Lord provides to
serve this very purpose in our lives.
Their successes and hard-learned lessons of faith help us make the right
choices at confusing crossroads, warn about dangerous areas and encourage us
along the course of this faith-race we are called to run.
A life defined by faith is not an easy race. It calls for endurance. See Hebrews 10:36. The word translated “endurance”
is hupomone, which refers to not
surrendering to circumstances or succumbing to trials. To keep running, there are some specific
things we have to do:
1) Shed excess weight – internally and externally. You can’t expect to run efficiently or victoriously
if you are carrying surplus fat or extra baggage. “Fat” is the result of indulgences and lack
of self-control. “Baggage” is almost always made up things gathered from the
past that we mistakenly feel that we just “have” to bring along. An obese marathon runner wearing an
overstuffed backpack will have a very hard time competing.
2) Get out of the way anything that can get in the
way. There are certain things you cannot
wear and run an endurance race, especially one of faith. For the first century Christians that
meant the long robes and prayer shawls of the extremely religious, as well as
flowing tunics of the powerful and politically correct had to go. For us, that means stuff, behavior and
attitudes that we hang on to because they make us look good, feel good or
appear to be good (the very definition of sin according to 1 John 2:16). These keep us from running the race of faith
the way the Lord wants us to run it.
They slow us down and often trip us up, sending us into a face plant,
which can leave some scars on our soul.
3) Keep our eyes on the goal. Our goal needs to be Jesus who is firmly
established in a place of authority and influence in our lives. He is the one who designed the unique course
you are asked to run (the author), and the one who makes sure it is just the
right course – fully and completely developed (the perfecter). He is also our example, as He victoriously
ran the race laid out for Him. He shows us how it is done: never loosing His focus
on the joy of achieving the goal set before Him: our salvation. We too need to “press on towards the goal”
(Philippians 3:13-14).
Through the His indwelling Spirit, Jesus wants to be
our trainer and running partner. He
knows just the pace we need to be running at any given time in the race. He
also knows the faith-training challenges we need to build up endurance so we
will be fully equipped for all the demands of the race. (James 1:2-4) Whether
it is a physical work out or a spiritual one, that kind of discipline is never
“fun,” but the benefits are for the long run. (Hebrews 12:11)
Making It
Personal
1 Corinthians 9:24 says, “to run in such a way that you may win.” Would you describe your spiritual discipline
as a winning way of staying in the faith-race?
Who are some of the “witnesses” the Lord has put along
your racecourse to keep you on track and running this challenging faith-race?
What self-indulgences do you recognize that are
weighing you down spiritually?
A lot of the baggage we carry falls under the
following categories. How are each of
these weighing/slowing you down?
- · Willfulness
- · Wounded-ness (includes being hurt by others and disappointed by God)
- · Weight of the world (real and imagined)
Colossians 1:10 says, “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.” Are there any “religious” behaviors,
attitudes or opinions that are getting in the way of you “running” in a manner
worthy of a face-race named after Jesus Christ?
How about cultural hindrances?
What is your clearly defined goal? (If you do not know where you are aiming, you
have no hope of ever getting there.)
What disciplines do you feel the Lord is calling you
to add to your faith-training? Why have you been resisting His prodding?
“This is the only race worth
running. I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. All that’s
left now is the shouting—God’s applause!” (2 Timothy 4:7,8a The Message)
