Run with endurance

 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, Hebrews 12:1 ESV

The great cloud of witnesses spoken of here in Hebrews 12:1 is all those great people of faith listed in chapter eleven. The writer of Hebrews is encouraging his readers to get rid of all the burdens that hold us down and run the race before us.

When you think about it runners have as little as possible in the way of burdens when they compete. They wear the lightest clothing and shoes they can find in order to be free to run as fast and as long as they can. When we think of marathon runners in particular, they would never make the distance if they carried too heavy a burden. They would not have the endurance to finish the race let alone win it.

The writer is wanting his readers to see that if they want to finish the race and win their crown they will need spiritual endurance. The biggest hindrance to spiritual endurance is the weight of sin. He is encouraging his readers to put away the sins in their lives that are holding them down.

We all have certain sinful behaviors that hold us back in our spiritual race. They are slowing us down and causing us to fall behind. Today wold be a good day to take inventory of what our sin burdens might be and ask forgiveness for them and strength to overcome them. Jesus is waiting at the finish line to welcome us to victory in Him.

That great cloud of witnesses that went before us kept their faith and endured lets not hold onto anything hindering us in our pursuit of the goal.

© 2012 Leo J. Woodman

Faith is...

 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1 ESV

So faith is believing you will receive something promised and you are sure of it even though you haven't actually seen it yet. The above verse is the opening verse of what is know as the faith chapter. In chapter eleven is a list of great people of faith. As you read through the chapter you will see some had their faith rewarded in their lifetime, while in other cases the promise or hope that hey had faith in came to another generation.

God is faithful to keep His promises. As you read chapter eleven you will see God followed through on all of His promises. You will also notice that all of these people of faith are commended for their faith. Not only were these individuals recognized for their faith by God in their day, they have been remembered on down through the centuries by their descendants. The writer of Hebrews uses them as examples of faith for his Jewish readers in the first century and also for us in the twenty-first century. The eleventh chapter of Hebrews teaches us how far reaching and effective an individuals faith is.

The only way we can be pleasing in God's sight is by our faith. “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 ESV In order to have a relationship with God, we must have faith in Him. In order to have a place in heaven we must have faith in Him and His promises. Our entire eternal future depends on our individual faith in God and His promises. Faith is a powerful thing it. It is life changing, it is world changing.

How is your faith in God and his promises? If you think it isn't all that it should be, read more about the individuals listed in the faith chapter and you will see that they didn't always have a perfect faith. But, they had faith and God commended them for it. God knows your faith will ebb and flow, but He will show Himself to always be true to His promises.

Keep the faith...

© 2012 Leo J. Woodman