APRIL 24, 2013
Faithful
To The Finish
Read: Hebrews
12:1-4
Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. —Hebrews 12:1
After
running 32 kilometers (20 miles) of the Salomon Kielder Marathon in
Great
Britain, a runner dropped out and rode a bus to a wooded area near
the finish
line. Then, he re-entered the race and claimed third prize. When
officials
questioned him, he stated that he stopped running because he was
tired.
Many
of us can relate to the exhaustion of a worn-out athlete as we run the
race of
the Christian faith. The book of Hebrews encourages us to “run with
endurance
the race that is set before us” (12:1). Running with endurance
requires that we
lay aside the sin that stands in our way and shed the weights
that hold us
back. We may even have to press on through persecution (2 Tim. 3:12).
To
prevent weariness and discouragement in our souls (Heb. 12:3), the Bible
urges
us to focus on Christ. When we pay more attention to Him than to our
struggles,
we will notice Him running alongside us—supporting us when we
stumble (2 Cor.
12:9) and encouraging us with His example (1 Peter 2:21-24).
Keeping our
eyes on “the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2) will help
us stay
close to the source of our strength and remain faithful to the finish.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face;
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.
—H. H. Lemmel. © Renewal 1950. H. H. Lemmel
We can finish strong when we focus on Christ.
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012
