Hebrews 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Yes my Friends, the Christian race of faith is a tough one; long and full of obstacles. But it’s winnable. We have many examples to follow; ‘wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses.’ (vs.2) Many heroes of faith accomplished it. And having entered the race by becoming a believer, we too should endeavour to do our best. ‘Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set out before us.’ (vs.1) To stand a chance Friends, we’ve first got to ‘lay aside every weight,’ anything that impedes us, like clothing or excessive body weight. Note, successful runners don’t wear much and must be physically fit. Then we’ve got to put aside the sins(s) that easily ensnare us. ‘But now ye also put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.’ (Col.3:8) That’s the sort of thing Bruh Paul is talking about. And once we’ve thrown off the excessive baggage, we’ve got to concentrate on endurance; staying power. Oh Friends, that’s the biggest obstacle: endurance, for it’s a long race, up hill and down dale, on uneven ground, across raging rivers and foaming oceans, facing many dangerous foes. So it needs plenty stamina, which doesn’t come easily or cheaply. ‘Know ye not that they which run in a race, run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.’ (1 Cor.9:24) Now that’s a fact people! All run the whole course, though only one wins the first prize. Bruh Paul exhorts us to run, so that we’ll have a chance to win. You have no chance to win if you don’t enter, then finish the race. Sadly, not many of us have the parts to do it on our own. But we can succeed by ‘Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…’ (vs.2). Jesus is the originator and perfecter of our faith. He’s already blazed the trail and completed the course, so we know it can be done, just not easily. But when things get real rough people, though we have many other human champions to emulate, the supreme example of endurance, is Jesus himself. ‘For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.’ Yes Friends, when the going gets real tough, just think about what Jesus went through: ‘who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.’ (vs.2) He withstood the pain and shame, for the joy of sitting at the Father’s right hand. And Friends, if we endure, some day, we also will sit at Jesus’ right hand. So when you feel like your endurance is waning, don’t get discouraged, look to Jesus, take heart from His rough but successful journey. Stick closely to Him, through faithful study of, and obedience to His Word, along with the guidance of His Holy Spirit. And we won’t only finish the race, but we’ll win it, going away! Oh Praise His Holy Name People, for the righteous example He’s set for us, His true and faithful followers! Much LOVE!…whenever in doubt…just look to Jesus…
Yes my Friends, the Christian race of faith is a tough one; long and full of obstacles. But it’s winnable. We have many examples to follow; ‘wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses.’ (vs.2) Many heroes of faith accomplished it. And having entered the race by becoming a believer, we too should endeavour to do our best. ‘Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set out before us.’ (vs.1) To stand a chance Friends, we’ve first got to ‘lay aside every weight,’ anything that impedes us, like clothing or excessive body weight. Note, successful runners don’t wear much and must be physically fit. Then we’ve got to put aside the sins(s) that easily ensnare us. ‘But now ye also put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.’ (Col.3:8) That’s the sort of thing Bruh Paul is talking about. And once we’ve thrown off the excessive baggage, we’ve got to concentrate on endurance; staying power. Oh Friends, that’s the biggest obstacle: endurance, for it’s a long race, up hill and down dale, on uneven ground, across raging rivers and foaming oceans, facing many dangerous foes. So it needs plenty stamina, which doesn’t come easily or cheaply. ‘Know ye not that they which run in a race, run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.’ (1 Cor.9:24) Now that’s a fact people! All run the whole course, though only one wins the first prize. Bruh Paul exhorts us to run, so that we’ll have a chance to win. You have no chance to win if you don’t enter, then finish the race. Sadly, not many of us have the parts to do it on our own. But we can succeed by ‘Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…’ (vs.2). Jesus is the originator and perfecter of our faith. He’s already blazed the trail and completed the course, so we know it can be done, just not easily. But when things get real rough people, though we have many other human champions to emulate, the supreme example of endurance, is Jesus himself. ‘For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.’ Yes Friends, when the going gets real tough, just think about what Jesus went through: ‘who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.’ (vs.2) He withstood the pain and shame, for the joy of sitting at the Father’s right hand. And Friends, if we endure, some day, we also will sit at Jesus’ right hand. So when you feel like your endurance is waning, don’t get discouraged, look to Jesus, take heart from His rough but successful journey. Stick closely to Him, through faithful study of, and obedience to His Word, along with the guidance of His Holy Spirit. And we won’t only finish the race, but we’ll win it, going away! Oh Praise His Holy Name People, for the righteous example He’s set for us, His true and faithful followers! Much LOVE!…whenever in doubt…just look to Jesus…
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