Running With Endurance {Hebrews 12}
12:00 AM
Running With Endurance { Hebrews 12 }
Life is hard. There are no two ways about it. The Bible refers to life as a race. And in the running of this race, we encounter hurdles of trials along the track. When we hit those curves in life, the Lord calls us to dig our heels deep into our faith, keep our eyes on Him, and patiently endure to the end.
Hebrews chapter 12 begins with, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” (v. 1) In the previous chapter, we are told of many great saints who have gone to be with the Lord. Saints who ran their races with faith and perseverance, and who inspire us all to do the same. Saints we can draw strength from when our run becomes difficult. They encourage each step we take that brings us closer to victory. I like to imagine a great grandstand filled with believers cheering me on, with my Grandma waving the biggest flag.
And like those saints, we too can win the race set before us. But winning means letting go. Letting go of things in our lives that hinder our relationship with God. Sin weighs us down, slows our pace, and keeps us in bondage. It places our focus elsewhere when our eyes should be fixed on Jesus, “the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (v. 2) Jesus, our perfect example, endured torture, pain, sorrow, rejection, and betrayal. He despised the shame of being publicly crucified, yet He did so willingly for the joy of fulfilling the will of the Father, and the greatness of His reward. During the toughest times of our race, when we've hit a wall and can't go one step further, remembering Jesus’ sacrifice gives us our second wind so that we don't, “grow weary and lose heart.” (v. 3)
We know that nothing in our lives happens without God’s permission. The difficulty He allows to enter is meant to train, strengthen, test, and often times, discipline us. And although no one likes to be disciplined, we can find comfort knowing that, “whom the Lord loves, He disciplines”. (v. 6) God wants the very best for us and His discipline leads us to repentance and complete dependency on Him, which in turn results in great blessings. For verse 11 promises, “All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” “Brokenness is God’s requirement for maximum usefulness. He disciplines us because He loves us, and He wants us to experience abundant Christian life.” (Dr. Charles Stanley)
James 1:2-3 says, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” Trials bring with them the opportunity to grow in maturity and to become more like Jesus. We are like diamonds in the rough, and each fire we successfully walk through in faith polishes us a little more, until we shine like the brilliant gems we are meant to be. God promises to never give us more than we can handle. And trusting Him provides us with the endurance to run our race with joy, knowing that He’ll be at the finish line waiting to receive us into His loving arms.
The Race of A Lifetime
The race we are running,
is the race of a lifetime
we must run it well . . .
or else we’ll be left behind.
If we’re going to succeed,
we must run it to win
the only way to victory
is to run away from sin.
For Satan is on the chase,
after our souls, he is gunning
we must be sure from him
to always keep on running.
We need to stay focused,
on the goal that is ahead
we must be sober and alert
so we can be Spirit lead.
It’s a race of endurance,
not one of swiftness or speed
we must depend on God . . .
for the stamina that we need!
.....Deborah Ann
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