“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. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat downat the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)
Last Tuesday marked two weeks since surgery on my ankle. This is a “milestone” on the road to recovery. My cast came off, sutures were removed from my foot, and a new cast was put on. Everything is looking good – praise the Lord!
These last few weeks also mark the first time to put a sneaker on my right foot. The only thing I have worn on the right foot for the last six months have been casts and a cam boot. Going into a sneaker has been like putting my foot into a dress shoe after wearing sandals for the summer. It’s tight!
On Thursday I returned to work putting in a little more than a half day and building up stamina.
Living the Christian life is metaphorically described as running a race; it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. A great part of the race is one of progressive sanctification, becoming more like Christ. Someone once said, “Adversity introduces a person to himself.”
Trials are one way the Lord reveals more about me and my sinful heart. At times, it is pretty ugly. There is an independent spirit rather than one that is dependent on God and others, impatience, and not responding in a manner that pleases the Lord to the events and people He sovereignly brings my way are some of the sins (2 Corinthians 5:9). Praise the Lord there is hope! The gift of repentance, forgiveness, and cleansing from sin is available (Psalm 51:1-12).
If you could script my life any differently than what God has already done and will do, even with the trials, I would not trade it for anything. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its works so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).
With the cast coming off and the new one being put on, these verses from Hebrews came to mind that challenge and encourage my heart.
Living the Christian life is metaphorically described as running a race; it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. A great part of the race is one of progressive sanctification, becoming more like Christ. Someone once said, “Adversity introduces a person to himself.”
Trials are one way the Lord reveals more about me and my sinful heart. At times, it is pretty ugly. There is an independent spirit rather than one that is dependent on God and others, impatience, and not responding in a manner that pleases the Lord to the events and people He sovereignly brings my way are some of the sins (2 Corinthians 5:9). Praise the Lord there is hope! The gift of repentance, forgiveness, and cleansing from sin is available (Psalm 51:1-12).
If you could script my life any differently than what God has already done and will do, even with the trials, I would not trade it for anything. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its works so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).
With the cast coming off and the new one being put on, these verses from Hebrews came to mind that challenge and encourage my heart.Surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses.
These “witnesses” referred to are the ones listed and noted in Hebrews 11. They went through great suffering, severe persecution and even death, but remained faithful because they were looking forward to their future reward—eternity with Christ in heaven. A.W. Pink notes, “If all the saints of God lived, suffered, endured, and conquered by faith, shall not we also?”
Throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so entangles.
Similarly, you must throw off “everything that hinders” you from running the Christian race. “Hinders” refers to “a weight” that keeps one from running as fast as he can. The weights that “hinder” you may not necessarily always be a bad thing. But, there may be things that keep you from an undistracted devotion to pursuing Christ and living for His glory. For example, when a runner trains for a race he eliminates specific food from his diet, possibly an activity he enjoys or even a relationship so that his single focus is to win the race. He does everything possible to win it! A.W. Pink provides a great definition for us to consider in those things that hinder a believer, “It is anything which retards our progress, anything which unfits us for discharge of our God-assigned duties, anything which dulls the conscience, blunts the edge or our spiritual appetite, or chokes the spirit of prayer.”
Take a minute and ask the Lord, “Heavenly Father, are there any weights—even good things, in my life that keep me from an running wholly for you and for your glory?” If He has showed you something, give it up, and lay it aside so that you can have an unhindered and undivided devotion to Him.
The sin that so easily entangles.
The “sin that so easily entangles” refers to the sin that resides in one’s heart. Putting to death personal sin, with the help of the Holy Spirit, is what we are commanded to do. Sin is deadly. It either kills you or you are killing it. The Puritans called this mortifying sin. “For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live” (Romans 8:13).
Since a believer is dead to sin and a live to God in Christ Jesus he has the ability, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to mortify sin (Romans 6:11-12; 8:13). This is a conscientious and aggressive pursuit to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that easily entangles. This known as radical amputation of sin. On the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught the multitudes, figuratively speaking, that if your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out, and throw it away. If you right hand causes you to sin, cut it off, and throw it away (Matthew 5:28-30). A person’s right hand and right eye are the most prominent parts of the body. If one’s right eye or right hand contributed to one sinning, Jesus instructed him to get rid of it. Dr. Stuart Scott commented about the radical amputation of sin stating, “We should see a lot of maimed Christians entering heaven.”
Run with Perseverance.
As sin is mortified and the things that encumber a runner are laid aside, the runners is called to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Heb 12:1c). Perseverance means to “be steadfast”, “to endure”, or “patient suffering.” This is the same word used in the book of James as it relates to trials. James encourages believers to persevere and stay under the trial, “knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance” (James 1:3).
Remember, the Christian race run for the glory of God is not a sprint. It is a marathon! God is in control. “Who can speak and have it not happen if the Lord has not decreed it?” (Lamentations 3:37) This a great assurance, comfort, and hope for the believer who is in physical affliction or trial to keep pressing on! Through this life you must endure, be steadfast in faith, and rely on the unchanging character of God and the promises of his Word, and keep on running! If one stops running, he is no longer a runner. You are to keep running hard for Jesus Christ. Even through the dark, hard, and discouraging days. Jesus is able to sympathize with your weakness because He was tempted in every way—yet was without sin (Hebrews 4:15). As the Son of God, He learned obedience from what He suffered (Hebrews 5:8).
The Greek Word for “race” ἀγών (agon) is the root for agony and means “conflict or struggle”. The Christian race can be difficult, but whatever you face it can be overcome through living by faith and abiding in Jesus Christ. “I (Jesus) am the vine; you are the branches. “If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you an do nothing” (John 15:5). “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). The believers addressed in Hebrews were encouraged to have their hearts focused on Jesus Christ. They remained confident in God as they held “unswervingly to the hope” they professed knowing that “he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).
Your faith in Christ must be active in order to persevere. “For my righteous one will live by faith” (Hebrews 10:38). This was a permeating mark in the lives of believers in Hebrews 11. Is it a characteristic of your life? If it is not, ask the Lord to help you to grow in faith. These brothers and sisters in Christ mentioned in Hebrews are an encouragement to us to press on no matter what. “All these people were still living by faith when they died” (Hebrews 11:13).
Fix Your Eyes on Jesus.
The focus for the Christian running the race, amidst the distractions of the world and the temptations, must always be on Jesus Christ. Jesus is the example to follow as He said, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:15). Jesus is the “author and perfecter” of your faith. He orchestrated and initiated your salvation and with your cooperation, through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, He is the one who will bring it to completion (Ephesians 1:4; Colossians 1:13-14; Romans 8:28-30; Philippians 1:6).
As a runner enters the starting blocks, before the gun goes off to start the race, he focuses his eyes on the finish tape. When the gun goes off, his goal is to be the first one to break the tape. Although Jesus Christ did not literally break a tape at the finish line, He remained faithful throughout His thirty-three years of life to do His Father’s will. He knew, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed…” (Luke 19:22). Jesus suffered a brutal death on the cross for your sins. Crucifixion by death was developed by the Romans to brutally and shamefully punish the most heinous of criminals. The torture involved in death by crucifixion was so severe, that no matter how terrible the crime, a Roman citizen could never be crucified. How ironic. The Romans did not subject their own people to crucifixion because death on the cross was so shamefully humiliating and painful.
Jesus, however, embraced death on the cross. “…For the joy set before him (he) endured the cross, scorning its shame” (Hebrews 12:2). He looked beyond the cross with joy knowing that His death provided salvation for sinners. “In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering” (Hebrews 2:10).
Throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so entangles.
Similarly, you must throw off “everything that hinders” you from running the Christian race. “Hinders” refers to “a weight” that keeps one from running as fast as he can. The weights that “hinder” you may not necessarily always be a bad thing. But, there may be things that keep you from an undistracted devotion to pursuing Christ and living for His glory. For example, when a runner trains for a race he eliminates specific food from his diet, possibly an activity he enjoys or even a relationship so that his single focus is to win the race. He does everything possible to win it! A.W. Pink provides a great definition for us to consider in those things that hinder a believer, “It is anything which retards our progress, anything which unfits us for discharge of our God-assigned duties, anything which dulls the conscience, blunts the edge or our spiritual appetite, or chokes the spirit of prayer.”
Take a minute and ask the Lord, “Heavenly Father, are there any weights—even good things, in my life that keep me from an running wholly for you and for your glory?” If He has showed you something, give it up, and lay it aside so that you can have an unhindered and undivided devotion to Him.
The sin that so easily entangles.
The “sin that so easily entangles” refers to the sin that resides in one’s heart. Putting to death personal sin, with the help of the Holy Spirit, is what we are commanded to do. Sin is deadly. It either kills you or you are killing it. The Puritans called this mortifying sin. “For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live” (Romans 8:13).
Since a believer is dead to sin and a live to God in Christ Jesus he has the ability, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to mortify sin (Romans 6:11-12; 8:13). This is a conscientious and aggressive pursuit to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that easily entangles. This known as radical amputation of sin. On the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught the multitudes, figuratively speaking, that if your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out, and throw it away. If you right hand causes you to sin, cut it off, and throw it away (Matthew 5:28-30). A person’s right hand and right eye are the most prominent parts of the body. If one’s right eye or right hand contributed to one sinning, Jesus instructed him to get rid of it. Dr. Stuart Scott commented about the radical amputation of sin stating, “We should see a lot of maimed Christians entering heaven.”
Run with Perseverance.
As sin is mortified and the things that encumber a runner are laid aside, the runners is called to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Heb 12:1c). Perseverance means to “be steadfast”, “to endure”, or “patient suffering.” This is the same word used in the book of James as it relates to trials. James encourages believers to persevere and stay under the trial, “knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance” (James 1:3).
Remember, the Christian race run for the glory of God is not a sprint. It is a marathon! God is in control. “Who can speak and have it not happen if the Lord has not decreed it?” (Lamentations 3:37) This a great assurance, comfort, and hope for the believer who is in physical affliction or trial to keep pressing on! Through this life you must endure, be steadfast in faith, and rely on the unchanging character of God and the promises of his Word, and keep on running! If one stops running, he is no longer a runner. You are to keep running hard for Jesus Christ. Even through the dark, hard, and discouraging days. Jesus is able to sympathize with your weakness because He was tempted in every way—yet was without sin (Hebrews 4:15). As the Son of God, He learned obedience from what He suffered (Hebrews 5:8).
The Greek Word for “race” ἀγών (agon) is the root for agony and means “conflict or struggle”. The Christian race can be difficult, but whatever you face it can be overcome through living by faith and abiding in Jesus Christ. “I (Jesus) am the vine; you are the branches. “If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you an do nothing” (John 15:5). “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). The believers addressed in Hebrews were encouraged to have their hearts focused on Jesus Christ. They remained confident in God as they held “unswervingly to the hope” they professed knowing that “he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).
Your faith in Christ must be active in order to persevere. “For my righteous one will live by faith” (Hebrews 10:38). This was a permeating mark in the lives of believers in Hebrews 11. Is it a characteristic of your life? If it is not, ask the Lord to help you to grow in faith. These brothers and sisters in Christ mentioned in Hebrews are an encouragement to us to press on no matter what. “All these people were still living by faith when they died” (Hebrews 11:13).
Fix Your Eyes on Jesus.
The focus for the Christian running the race, amidst the distractions of the world and the temptations, must always be on Jesus Christ. Jesus is the example to follow as He said, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:15). Jesus is the “author and perfecter” of your faith. He orchestrated and initiated your salvation and with your cooperation, through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, He is the one who will bring it to completion (Ephesians 1:4; Colossians 1:13-14; Romans 8:28-30; Philippians 1:6).
As a runner enters the starting blocks, before the gun goes off to start the race, he focuses his eyes on the finish tape. When the gun goes off, his goal is to be the first one to break the tape. Although Jesus Christ did not literally break a tape at the finish line, He remained faithful throughout His thirty-three years of life to do His Father’s will. He knew, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed…” (Luke 19:22). Jesus suffered a brutal death on the cross for your sins. Crucifixion by death was developed by the Romans to brutally and shamefully punish the most heinous of criminals. The torture involved in death by crucifixion was so severe, that no matter how terrible the crime, a Roman citizen could never be crucified. How ironic. The Romans did not subject their own people to crucifixion because death on the cross was so shamefully humiliating and painful.
Jesus, however, embraced death on the cross. “…For the joy set before him (he) endured the cross, scorning its shame” (Hebrews 12:2). He looked beyond the cross with joy knowing that His death provided salvation for sinners. “In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering” (Hebrews 2:10).
So too we, who run the Christian race, must daily and consistently look to Jesus Christ for strength, encouragement, and hope. This is a conscientious decision. “Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13).
The psalmist is a biblical example of one who relied on the Lord. His hope was in the Lord, “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you” (Psalm 39:7). His strength was in the Lord, “Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always” (Ps 105:4). His joy was in the Lord, “you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand” (Ps 16:11b).
Where is your hope, strength, and joy?
Run with perseverance.
Where is your hope, strength, and joy?
Run with perseverance.
