As we approach a new year, many will declare resolutions of various kinds: lose weight, eat healthier, read through the Bible, exercise more, etc. Speaking of exercise, the topic of today’s message is on running, the race God has laid out for us. Each of us has a race that is unique to our circumstances (personal), and God equips us to run our unique race, but how well we run will have impact on others as they run their race (not private). Two things required to successfully complete a race involve 1) overcoming the struggle and challenges the race brings, and 2) a need to focus on the finish. This focus will help us endure the struggles and challenges while we are in the race. Focusing on the finish helps give us direction, making sure we stay on track. Today’s passage provides three sources to help you as you run your race.
- There are Stories to Encourage (Hebrews 12:1a)
Hebrews 12:1 refers to chapter 11, a.k.a. ‘faith’s hall of fame’ as the Christian reader being surrounded by this “great cloud of witnesses”. The stories of these witnesses from chapter 11 are meant to encourage and motivate us. By their works of faith, i.e. them running their race, we see that it can be done. We can also be influenced by our contemporaries as they exercise their faith. This is one way God helps equip you to run your race.
- Look over Hebrews 11 and pick out three people whose acts of faith encourage you the most.
- Who is someone you know today that encourages you by their works of faith?
- What is it about them that encourages you?
- What can you do to be a more faithful witness for others to follow?
- There are Stumbling Blocks to Avoid (Hebrews 12:1b)
Next our attention is placed on what is needed to prepare to run our race. The removal of encumbrances (weights), those things which hinder our ability to meet our full potential in Christ. Encumbrances are described as anything that slows a runner down, not allowing him to build up his endurance. As endurance is built up, the runner is able to run better, faster and farther, but he can’t lose focus and get entangled by sin. Once he does, he can’t easily continue until it is removed (repents).
- Encumbrances aren’t bad in and of themselves, but when they distract us from where our focus needs to be, then they are a problem. How hindered would you say you are by encumbrances?
- Describe how sin affects how well you run your race.
- How can the examples of others, like described in chapter 11, motivate us to lay aside encumbrances that hinder us?
- How do you lay aside such encumbrances?
- There is Strength to Enable (Hebrews 12:2-3)
The author encourages us to focus our attention on Jesus. This implies that we turn our attention away from ourselves and from others and focus solely on Jesus. Jesus set the example of what it looks like to obey the Father. When we focus on Jesus, we can find encouragement and motivation to endure whatever circumstances we may find ourselves.
- Like with most sports, runners typically have a coach to help them train and work on the fundamentals of the sport. How is Jesus like the Christian’s coach?
- As we run our race, what are examples of fundamentals of the Christian life we need to keep in mind?
- How can Jesus and His example be a comfort in the trials of our race (life)?
- On a scale of 1-5, how well would you rate your running your race?
- As a new year begins, what can you do to run your race better?
What is our duty with respect to Jesus? We must,
[1.] Look unto him; that is, we must set him continually before us as our example, and our great encouragement; we must look to him for direction, for assistance, and for acceptance, in all our sufferings.
[2.] We must consider him, meditate much upon him, and reason with ourselves from his case to our own. We must analogize, as the word is; compare Christ’s sufferings and ours; and we shall find that as his sufferings far exceeded ours, in the nature and measure of them, so his patience far excels ours, and is a perfect pattern for us to imitate.
Matthew Henry, 1662-1714