Life to the FullSample

Running Your Race

Would you describe yourself as a runner? Do you enjoy going out for runs or running at school? Maybe after a few minutes, your knees feel like they are made of poppadoms and are totally out of breath. Maybe you would never actively choose to go out running even though you know it has lots of health benefits. In Hebrews 12:1-3, the author talks about running and the race that Christians should be running - the race marked out for us.

We, as Christians, have been called to run a race. A race of faith and trust in the Lord God. In Hebrews 12, the author instructs us to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles”. Removing this sin from our lives will help us massively in running this race as it allows us to wholeheartedly live for God. Just imagine going for a run but having a backpack filled with weights and stones - that would be awful! Jesus is calling us to take off our backpacks and run free and weightless; without any hindrances or stubborn sin that can latch onto us and prevent us from being free to run the race that has been marked out for us.

What does it look like to run the race that is marked out for us? What does this mean? It is so important to not get distracted from our race by comparing how far along we are in the journey to other people. We have to focus on our race. Comparison can be so harmful in our journey as Christians. Comparing ourselves to others on social media, in our grades or with what we look like won’t help us, as comparison is the thief of joy.

For us, to run the race that is marked out for us, we need to focus on our race and not anyone else’s. God loves us and treasures us as individuals and He has called each of us to run this race for Him. Comparing our race to others can deter and distract us from the reason why we are running the race, which is to grow in our faith and live with our eyes fixed on Jesus. This is stated in verse 2 where it says we must be ‘fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.’

Running this race is not always easy and it can be challenging to persevere. However, continuing to focus our eyes on Jesus in the face of adversity and hardship will help strengthen our faith and our relationship with God. Ultimately, these verses are calling us to live different lives and run a different race from culture: The race for Christ!

Questions

Is there anything that is deterring you from running this race?

Are there some people or some things that are preventing you from running your race?

Is comparison harming you in any way?

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You, that the race You have marked out for us has so much reward and helps us to grow deeper in our faith and relationship with You. Please help me to reject any sin or hindrances that prevent me from running this race and help me to focus my eyes on only You, Lord.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.