[Run to Win] Running With Perseverance Sample

Run With Endurance

Though there is disagreement about the authorship of the book of Hebrews, there is good reason to believe that Paul was influential to the writer, if not the writer himself. His influence is evident in the letter’s description of the Christian life as running the race, as the writer of Hebrews gave us the magnificent vision of a stadium filled with spectators.

The spectators were the believers of old, who previously ran the race faithfully and are now cheering on the current believers running the race set before them. In Hebrews Chapter eleven, in the Hall of Faith, we read of faithful believers who have gone before us. What a beautiful picture of the joy of the faithful!

The author of Hebrews also described how runners in the Greek and Roman games competed. They laid their clothes aside, so nothing would get in the way of running the race to the best of their ability. The exhortation given to believers was to imitate runners, casting off any weight that would easily entangle itself around their legs and trip them up.

For believers, the exhortation is to put aside any added weight—any sin, anything superfluous—that could hinder him or her from running the race successfully. The author of Hebrews urged us to keep in spiritual shape, so that Christians may run the race of the Christian life with endurance until the end.

How do you want to run your race of life? Are you entangled by the distracting earthly things that can trip you up, or unencumbered and streamlined, running fast and well, with endurance to see the race through to the end? The Christian life is not a 50-yard dash but a long-distance race. Are you conditioned, trained, and focused on the end goal? Verse 2 of Chapter 12 of Hebrews begins with this statement, “Looking to Jesus.” The runner’s focus in the Christian race of life is the finish line: Jesus.

Lord, may I run the race of life with endurance, focused on the goal of a deep relationship with You. When I stand face to face with You at the end of my race, may I receive the reward for faithfulness in the race. Amen.

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