Hebrews 12:1-2
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
In order to run our race well, the author of Hebrews says we must, “lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…” This isn’t here to raise the Bible’s word count, it is yet another reminder of our propensity to sin and how easily we are tempted to.
This is a warning followed by a calling. Not only are we warned to flee from sin but we are also charged to “run with endurance the race that is set before us.” At this point you may be thinking about your life and all the ups and downs that come along with living on this earth. You may be carrying a weight that was placed on you by someone else or it may even be self-inflicted. The endurance needed to run the race well may feel just out of reach.
Well, you are not alone. Even better, I have some great news! Verse 2 reminds us that we do not find the endurance we need within ourselves, we find it by looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.
What a great picture of who Jesus is and what he did for us…all wrapped up in one verse. Throughout the entire book of Hebrews, the author is reminding us of the truth that Jesus is both fully God and fully man. He is the humble lamb that was slain for the sins of the world and He is the imprint of the nature of the almighty God. The only way to break free from the bondage of sin is to live a life surrendered to Christ.
While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions:
- What are some things in your life that might be getting in the way of you running your best race?
- How might you set boundaries, create habits or receive healing to remove those things that might tangle you up?
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you?
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you respond?
A big thanks to Montana Ethridge for today’s devotional thought!
Photo by ZHENYU LUO on Unsplash