Daily Devotional

I’m a runner. Well, actually, more of a jogger, or even shuffler. But I enjoy running. My favorite time to run is in the mornings. I get up, get on my running clothes and shoes, grab my iPod and headphones, and head for the trail. When the mornings are dark, I also put on a head lamp to light the trail so I don’t trip, and to alert bike riders to my presence. I don’t want to get run over.

It reminds me of a great verse from Hebrews.

Hebrews 12:1 – "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."

For me to run with endurance, I have to have to get off any extra weight. That’s why when I run I try to wear the lightest clothes possible. I won’t put on a sweatshirt until it hits the 40’s. And I won’t put sweats over my shorts until it hits the 30’s. I’ll even buy running shoes that are light weight, because I don’t even want extra weight on my feet when I run. I want to get to my pace quickly and maintain it for the entire run. Running is hard enough, I don’t want anything bogging me down or slowing me down.

The writer of Hebrews is using running as a metaphor for living the Christian life. It’s like running a race. We are all disciples (followers) of Christ. And a disciple tries to become like the one they are following. So as Christians, the goal of discipleship is to become like Christ. We strive, like a runner, to every day become more like Him.

Three things to think about from Hebrews 12:1

1. You are not running alone
There is a huge cloud of witnesses surrounding us. Hebrews 11 lists the past heroes of the faith (like Abraham and Moses) who trusted God through deep trials and challenges as they ran this race. They’ve already finished their race. And we can think of them as being in the stands cheering us on to the finish.

2. Lay aside every encumbrance
A runner strips off the weights. He will shed heavy coats and excess gear before a race. And as we grow in Christ, the ‘weights’ represent sin which so easily entangles us. While we are running, the evil one loves to try and trip us up. He tempts us in an area of weakness and if we sin, we stumble and fall. But this ‘weight’ can also represent anxiety, over-commitment, grief, and other distractions that sap our energy. Before a race a runner wants to get good sleep, eat a good meal, and do a proper warm up. He or she does everything she can to remove every possible barrier to running the race well. So strip off the ‘weight’ of sin and other distractions.

3. Run with endurance
There are two different kinds of races, sprints and long distance. Following Jesus is not a sprint, it’s a long distance race, like a marathon. After you came to Christ, you probably got off to a fast start. You were reading your Bible every day, going to church every Sunday, and taking every possible opportunity to serve. But then as time passed, you realized you couldn’t keep that pace for the long haul, and you dialed it back. Running with endurance means we have daily quiet time with God in His Word and prayer, and we follow Him faithfully, step-by-step, every single day. It’s not a burst of intensity, it is a steady, slow, enduring run toward the finish line.

So in this race, take time with God in His Word daily. Rid yourselves of the extra weights that encumber. And realize you’ve got a cloud of witnesses cheering you on. And never give up.

Run the Race!

New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.