WEEKLY DEVOTION

Run the race set before you

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Hebrews 12:1-2

When we consider the faithful witness of so many who have gone before us – how they, in faith, willingly gave up the pleasures of this life and suffered all, including death, to follow Christ Jesus and to be found in Him – we too ought to lay aside everything that gets in our way and hinders us and, with endurance, run the race of faith, looking unto Jesus, who is both the author and the finisher of our faith.

Have you stopped to consider all that those before us suffered as followers of Jesus? They forsook homelands, endured persecutions and even suffered death that they might hold fast to their Messiah and Savior and be found in Him and clothed in His righteousness (cf. Hebrews 11). For many of us, we can even look back within our own families and see what some suffered to continue in the true faith and hold fast to Christ and His Word and possess the salvation He offers and gives to us.

Yes, we run a race – a long-distance race which requires endurance and focus on the finish line. Though the course of the race may seem daunting and impossible, we have a great cloud of witnesses who have gone before us, who have persevered and reached the finish line! Therefore, we too ought lay aside all those things in this life which weigh us down and keep us from running the race, and all the sin which surrounds us and would drag us off course, and run, with endurance, the race which our God has set before us.

And how do we keep going when the course is diffi cult and we would become discouraged? We keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. He has gone before us, taken all our sin and guilt upon Himself and suffered our shame, our punishment. And He rose again on the third day and ascended to the right hand of God the Father. He graciously poured out upon us His Holy Spirit and brought us to know and trust in Him for forgiveness and for life; and He keeps us in the faith, encouraging us and assuring us through His Word of forgiveness and life everlasting. He is there for us, at the finish line, cheering us on, telling us to keep running because we are almost there and He will sustain us (cf. Phil. 1:6; 2 Tim. 4:18)!

Then, at the end of our race, together with all who have gone before us, we too will say: “I have fought a good fi ght, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Tim. 4:7-8).

O gracious and merciful God and Savior, keep us in the race of faith and bring us safely to the finish line – to You in heaven! Amen.

[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture from the King James Version of the Bible.]

News, Pages 2 on 10/23/2013