Run the Race
”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. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.“
Great cloud of witnesses.
People are watching.
Don’t live for their approval.
God and his angels are cheering you on!
Throw off the things that hinder.
Pleasure
Busyness
Family and friends
Anything that takes you away from God
Get rid of the sin that so easily entangles:
Lust
Pride
Anger
Addiction
Lying/cursing
Fighting
Gossiping
Sin takes us places we never thought we’d go.
Sin makes us stay longer than we ever intended
Sin costs us more than we ever intended to pay
Run with perseverance
Your body wants to keep going long after your mind quits.
Jesus persevered through three temptations and many more.
In high school I decided to run cross country. I kept quitting each race. My coach said no more quitting. He helped, guided, and encouraged me to not give up.
Race marked out for us.
Good has a plan for your race.
Bring him glory
Be like Jesus
Love others
Fix our eyes on Jesus
Peter walked on water. When he took his eyes off of Jesus, he began to sink.
Focus is in Christ, the world tries to get us to take our eyes off Jesus.
Pioneer and perfect or of our faith.
He will give us strength, guidance, perseverance
Joy sat before him……
Jesus was not joyful about having to go to lacrosse, being arrested, suffering a beating. The joy for Jesus was in doing the fathers will, and bringing his grace to us through his death.