I was never much of an athlete, although I have always loved sports and played before I was in high school. Watching my children begin to play sports, focusing, struggling and competing has been a lot of fun. It’s amazing how excited we parents can become as we cheer for our children and their teams.
The picture we are presented in the first few verses of chapter 12 is of an athletic competition – a race, in fact. There are many people there watching and they are all cheering as the runners compete.
Who are the runners? We are. We are the ones being urged to focus; to focus on Jesus and keep our eyes on His promises. We are being urged to struggle against temptation and to do what is right. As we compete the chant of “Go! Fight! Win!” is appropriate as we go into all the world to share the Gospel, as we fight the good fight of faith, and as we press on to receive the victory that Jesus has already won for us.
The race of life is a test of endurance. This is no sprint, and then we’re done. We must keep our eyes on the prize. We fix our eyes on Jesus. He began our faith and He is the one who brings it to completion. He Himself endured the cross. When His race was difficult He scorned the shame and pressed on and won. Now He stands at the finish line and cheers us on.
Our Heavenly Father is like our coach, encouraging us and disciplining us. I remember starting basketball practices running and drilling over and over again. We always wanted to scrimmage, and the coach kept lining us up because he knew we needed the strength from running in practice and the skill the drills helped us develop to win games. In the same way God disciplines us to strengthen us, to correct us, and to shape us as His children. Sometimes that discipline hurts – I remember getting blisters on my feet and injuries as the coach pushed me to do more than I believed I could. God does that too.
So we are urged to lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily entangles, to lift our drooping hands and strengthen our weak knees. What are some of those weights? Bitterness, sexual immorality, and trading the holy things of God for the pleasures of this world (like Esau did). These, along with every other sin, cause us to take our eyes off of Christ. They distract us from the goal, and when we’re not paying attention to the race we get off track, slacken our speed and reduce our effort.
This is no ordinary race that we are running, and we should keep that in mind. This race brings us to the end of all things when God will bring this world to its end. We should run/live with reverence and awe, because our God is awesome. He is a consuming fire, and He will destroy everything that is contrary to his good and gracious will. This “game” is for keeps. There are no “do-overs.” There are, however, many second, third, and even hundred-and-third chances as we live in the forgiveness won through Jesus’ blood.
Don’t quit. Fix your eyes on Jesus. God is cheering for you!
Father, give me strength to cast off sin and follow Jesus! Amen.
The picture we are presented in the first few verses of chapter 12 is of an athletic competition – a race, in fact. There are many people there watching and they are all cheering as the runners compete.
Who are the runners? We are. We are the ones being urged to focus; to focus on Jesus and keep our eyes on His promises. We are being urged to struggle against temptation and to do what is right. As we compete the chant of “Go! Fight! Win!” is appropriate as we go into all the world to share the Gospel, as we fight the good fight of faith, and as we press on to receive the victory that Jesus has already won for us.
The race of life is a test of endurance. This is no sprint, and then we’re done. We must keep our eyes on the prize. We fix our eyes on Jesus. He began our faith and He is the one who brings it to completion. He Himself endured the cross. When His race was difficult He scorned the shame and pressed on and won. Now He stands at the finish line and cheers us on.
Our Heavenly Father is like our coach, encouraging us and disciplining us. I remember starting basketball practices running and drilling over and over again. We always wanted to scrimmage, and the coach kept lining us up because he knew we needed the strength from running in practice and the skill the drills helped us develop to win games. In the same way God disciplines us to strengthen us, to correct us, and to shape us as His children. Sometimes that discipline hurts – I remember getting blisters on my feet and injuries as the coach pushed me to do more than I believed I could. God does that too.
So we are urged to lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily entangles, to lift our drooping hands and strengthen our weak knees. What are some of those weights? Bitterness, sexual immorality, and trading the holy things of God for the pleasures of this world (like Esau did). These, along with every other sin, cause us to take our eyes off of Christ. They distract us from the goal, and when we’re not paying attention to the race we get off track, slacken our speed and reduce our effort.
This is no ordinary race that we are running, and we should keep that in mind. This race brings us to the end of all things when God will bring this world to its end. We should run/live with reverence and awe, because our God is awesome. He is a consuming fire, and He will destroy everything that is contrary to his good and gracious will. This “game” is for keeps. There are no “do-overs.” There are, however, many second, third, and even hundred-and-third chances as we live in the forgiveness won through Jesus’ blood.
Don’t quit. Fix your eyes on Jesus. God is cheering for you!
Father, give me strength to cast off sin and follow Jesus! Amen.
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