For the past two weeks we have been studying the twelfth chapter of Hebrews and learning how we can run the race of faith. The writer of Hebrews has used the illustration of a runner to teach us that we should cast aside everything that would slow us down and the sin that immobilizes us so that we might run to our full potential. He has told us that we must fix our eyes on the finish line where our Savior, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, awaits our arrival. He has also sought to encourage us by telling us to keep in mind the incredible endurance of Jesus so that we might run with perseverance — because the race is long and difficult.
Archive for April, 2002
The Encouragement of Discipline
Hebrews 12:4-11
Sunday, April 21st, 2002
Running With Purpose
Hebrews 12:2-3
Sunday, April 14th, 2002
Last week we began our study of Hebrews 12:1-3. The writer of Hebrews used the illustration of a runner to teach us how important it is for us to lay aside everything that will slow us down in the race of faith. If you will remember “the laying aside what will hinder” doesn’t necessarily describe things of an immoral or “bad” nature, but rather anything that will slow us down in our passionate pursuit of Almighty God. He did go on to point out that we should lay aside “the sin that so easily entangles us.” The important word for “entangle” that is used in verse 1 teaches us that sin acts like a boa constrictor in our lives. Once it latches on it begins to constrict, choking the life out of us, and immobilizing us so that we can’t run at all.
Running With Endurance
Hebrews 12:1-3
Sunday, April 7th, 2002
On Monday of this past week I went to Bishop McGuinness High School where Nate was running in a track meet. There were 7th-9th grade boys and girls from all over the state who left their homes early in the morning to make their way to the track. I sat and watched races for most of the day. There were short sprints and long distance races. There were relays and individual events. There were those who were fast and those who were not so fast. There were big kids that I could hardly believe were in middle school and there were kids that I would have thought were in grade school. As diverse as the kids were, and as varied as the events were that day, there was one commonality among all of the kids — they came to win.