Weekly Reflection – Hebrews 11: Run With Endurance – “Our Race”
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV
“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
God has set before you – and each of us – a race. You must run it, and it will involve effort and commitment. I also believe that God has set before us as a local congregation, as Living Hope Ministries a race. That God says to us collectively as a local church, “Run with endurance the race that I have set before you.” In Acts 20:24 Paul pictured himself as a runner who had a race to finish, and nothing would keep Paul from finishing the race. “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24 ESV Paul had his race to run, and we have our own – will we like Paul give everything to finish the race we have been given?
Endurance is needed to run the race. Endurance does not mean the patience which sits down and accepts things. Like, “I just need to endure this boring sermon.” It is a determination, unhurried and yet urgent, which goes steadily on and refuses to be distracted, refuses to give up, refuses to be kept from the finish line.”
“Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin that clings so closely.”
- Sin can hold us back and that is why a lifestyle of faith is a lifestyle of repentance.
- But there are also things that may not be sin (every weight) but are merely hindrances that can keep us from running effectively the race God has for us.
- The race of the Christian life — is not run well by asking, “Is it a sin?” but, “Does it help me run? Is it in the way?”
- Our choices are not always between right and wrong, but between something that may hinder us and something else that may not.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses.”
This cloud of witnesses are witnesses to us of faith and endurance, in all they have lived and experienced. Their testimonies have been given to encourage us on, to motivate us, to teach us, to inspire us to run with endurance the race that has been set before us. This is specifically pointing back to chapter 11 and the men and women discussed there, but this “great” cloud of witnesses also points to all the men and women who lived a lifestyle of biblical faith throughout church history. Through the testimony of their lives they’re saying, “By faith I finished, you can too!”
“Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.”
We are not told to look to that great cloud of witnesses. Verse 2 tells us to look to “Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith.” Christianity is not a cult of hero worship. It is centered on the singularity of Jesus Christ. We are not here because of Abel, Moses, Abraham, or any of the others mentioned, the church exists because Jesus died and rose again, and the only way to endure is by looking to Him. This great cloud of witnesses encourages and inspires us, but the One who keeps us in the race is Christ alone.
Our Race
Living Hope Ministries has been given a race, a unique calling that other local churches do not have. Yes, all Jesus centered churches are united in glorifying God and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ and should work together for that cause. And yet, I also believe that each local church has been given a unique mission, a personal race to run.
We were blessed this past Sunday to hear from Matt Zehr, Ed Zehr, and Nate Zehr. To be reminded of the race we have been given, to hear some stories of how men and women lived a lifestyle of faith and ran with endurance the race that was set before them. I encourage you to listen or watch if you have not. (www.livinghopeministriesny.com)
I want to highlight just a couple statements that were made. Nate said that the why behind the Pine Grove church (now Living Hope) being planted was men and women who wanted to be a “missional church”, to make a difference outside of the church circle. Ed made the statement that a desire for him personally but also for the church was to “take care of people.” I think our vision statement fits well with both of these thoughts. “To share the Good News of our Living Hope from hearts of love and lives of service.” “To share the Good News”…this sounds a lot like being missional Christian’s. Living Hope exists to spread the Gospel, to share the good news of Jesus Christ. “From hearts of love and lives of service” …this sounds a lot like caring for people, loving people, serving people, and developing relationships with people. We do all of that so more and more people will know and worship our Living Hope, Jesus Christ.
Let us keep on keeping on and run with endurance the race that was set before us.
Living Hope Ministries 