I love how accessible the bible is and yet how incredibly deep it can be. You can read it and reread it and have new observations all the time. Take, for example, these verses, which happen to be favorites of mine (I’m sure they are favorites of many).
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. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Let’s ask some questions.
Whose race are we running?
[A]nd let us run with perserverance the race marked out for us.
Although it doesn’t say God expressly, we can see that we aren’t called to run a race we choose; instead, God puts out the markers and tells us to go just as Jesus went along the paths He has marked. This is a hard teaching for me because I have had to confess to God, even as recently as in the past week, how I have chosen my own way often in my life. For example, I never seriously asked God if I should go to college – I just went because that is what people do. Given that I didn’t ask that simple initial question, I never seriously asked for his guidance as to the location of my college, my major of study, or any other such questions. I was too busy running my own race or the race my culture laid out for me. Have you asked God what course you are supposed to be on?
Is the race going to be easy?
[A]nd let us run with perserverance the race [like] Jesus [who] endured the cross.
I think this example demonstrates the challenge before us. We are called to take up our cross and die daily and we are told here that doing so will take perserverance – a consistence and endurance beyond our own ability. Moreover, as we just finished the easter season, the imagery of Christ dying on the cross is overwhelming.
So, how can we even imagine being able to do any of this?
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus. . . . Consider Him . . . .
There’s only one way – Jesus. And when we have our eyes on Him, like Peter, we can walk on water; in fact, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
