"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,
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith,
who for the joy set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself,
so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
Hebrews 12:1-3
I find this so encouraging every time I read this! Think about the situation we are in- we are in the race of our lives. We have an amazing group of spectators watching (Check out Hebrews chapter 11!) and I think they are cheering us on. However in our race it sometimes is so easy to get weighted down with problems and troubles and we so easily let sin distract us and tangle us up.
God is saying- get rid of those weights and the snares of sin. You wouldn't run in a marathon carrying rocks would you? Why do we do it in this most important of all races?
Instead of weights we should seek to have endurance- "Never, ever give up!"
Jesus has already run this race and made it with flying colors- He is the One that we can look to as an example. When we look to Him other things aren't going to distract us like they did before. When we grow tired we can remember what He went through for us so that we realize that we can make it too!
So don't lose heart! Keep running!
