Run the Race

Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, so that you won’t grow weary and give up. —Hebrews 12:1-3

Encouragement of

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Who Ran Before Us

As mentioned in chapter 11, there is a multitude of saints who have gone before us. These men and women are witnesses to the

worth of God. The have shown us that God is faithful and cares for His people, even in the midst of their worst trials.

Seeing the faithful testimony of these witnesses who have gone before us, we are encouraged to get rid of anything that would

us in the race.

Not only are we encouraged to lay aside anything that holds us back from running the race faithfully, we are commanded to get rid of the sin that “

.”

The race of faith is not a 100m sprint, nor even a 26-mile marathon, but a race that lasts the rest of our lifetime. It is a race that requires

and

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.

Encouragement of

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who ran before us

We are to focus on

. The work translated “looking” carries an idea of a fixed gaze. Even though we have a crowd of witnesses surrounding us who testify to the worthiness of trusting God, we are to be intently focused on Jesus.

Jesus is the “

and perfecter of our faith.”

Jesus ran the race with His mind focused on the

ahead. He knew that His place was the honored position at the right hand of the Father with the worship of His people.

Application

1. Christians are to run this race
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   .
2. I need to carefully evaluate my condition to run
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   .
3. Though we should rightfully be
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   for our fellow runners, before we begin to point out the weights and sins that hinder them, we must remember Jesus’ direction in Matthew 7 to remove the gigantic timber in our own eye before trying to get the speck out of someone else’s.
4. Remember
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   .

The joy of faithfully serving God and following Jesus is worth more than anything this world promises you. Run the race.