SCRIPTURE: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Hebrews 12:1-3
THOUGHT: Some days faith just seems a whole lot more complicated than others. The writer of Hebrews makes it sound so simple – just throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and run with perseverance. I see a blissful runner just throwing shoes left and right, shedding jacket and tossing water bottles with abandon. Sure. Did the writer of this beautiful passage have children? A business? Aging or ill parents? A disease that sucked the energy out of them?
I don’t mean to complain. In fact, I love this passage. I calls out the best in all of us even if the factors above are in play. It’s like a billboard reminding us, larger than life, that there are others watching and cheering and reminding us of their own tough races.
If I slow down my reading a little, I notice I don’t have to be the best runner on the field; I don’t even have to compare myself to other runners. I just have to run with perseverance. You know, I think I can do that. And I don’t have to run all over creation, I just have to run the race marked out for me by the author, the perfecter, the pioneer, the finisher of my faith. I think I can do that too – he knows me pretty well and has promised he won’t give me more hills than I can handle. Finally, I have a focal point as I run – the one I love is waiting at the finish line. If I keep my eyes on him, his steady and loving gaze will encourage, and the memories of his own race will inspire.
PRAYER: Dear Jesus, author and finisher of my race, I’m so grateful for the great cloud of witnesses who’ve run before me, and now cheer me on. I’m so grateful for your own finished race – and your resurrected presence at the finish line. I will likely stumble across that line into your arms, broken and beat up, still throwing off everything that’s trying to entangle me…but I’ll be there! Amen!
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ABOUT ME:
Blogger Amy Clemens is the author of Walking When You’d Rather Fly: Meditations on Faith After the Fall. In it she explores childhood sexual abuse and how it impacted her faith (or lack thereof) for four decades. You’ll find not only her story, but better yet, the Big Story of God.
Check out Walking When You’d Rather Fly, and learn more about the book and Amy’s other ministries. You will also find her devotional work at Words of Hope.
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