I love to run. Not\u00a0slow-paced,\u00a0light\u00a0jogging but\u00a0RUNNING.\u00a0If there is competition involved\u00a0in the running,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0even better.\u00a0Knowing my competitive nature and\u00a0love for running,\u00a0God\u00a0saved me while I was at summer camp by using\u00a0a\u00a0Scripture memory verse\u00a0competition\u00a0about running.\u00a0The passage uses\u00a0the language of running a race to describe the Christian life.<\/p>\n
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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he 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 sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV<\/em><\/p>\n For the first time in my life, I understood that my life was not fixed on Jesus.\u00a0Jesus\u00a0was\u00a0not my\u00a0finish line,\u00a0hope,\u00a0and\u00a0goal. Instead,\u00a0I fixed my eyes always on myself.\u00a0I was a sinner,\u00a0and I needed a Savior who\u00a0was not hindered\u00a0by\u00a0the things\u00a0that slowed\u00a0me down or entangled\u00a0by\u00a0the\u00a0sins that\u00a0caused\u00a0me to stumble.\u00a0I needed Christ\u00a0to bear and carry the weight of my sin\u00a0if I\u00a0was ever to\u00a0have\u00a0the hope\u00a0of\u00a0finishing\u00a0and enjoying\u00a0eternal life\u00a0with God.<\/p>\n When I repented of my sin to God and Christ gave me new life\u00a0the real race began\u2026a\u00a0race that\u00a0God marked out for me for his purposes.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n I am learning\u00a0that\u00a0running well\u00a0spiritually\u00a0begins at home.\u00a0<\/strong>Personal life at home\u00a0is the training ground for\u00a0Christian\u00a0champions who overcome.\u00a0<\/strong>But how do we run at home with perseverance?<\/p>\n When working out\u00a0or competing,\u00a0we\u00a0are\u00a0encouraged to go farther and\u00a0dig deeper\u00a0when others are spurring\u00a0us\u00a0on.\u00a0If you are feeling unmotivated to get out of bed to pray and\u00a0read\u00a0God\u2019s word,\u00a0by faith\u00a0imagine\u00a0a stadium full of\u00a0faith heroes.\u00a0Champions\u00a0like Noah, Abraham,\u00a0Sarah,\u00a0Moses,\u00a0Rahab,\u00a0Samuel, and David\u00a0are\u00a0cheering you on\u00a0to be faithful to Jesus Christ and\u00a0to finish\u00a0your\u00a0Christian\u00a0race like they finished theirs,\u00a0because\u00a0\u201cwe are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n A competitive athlete does not just avoid\u00a0doing things\u00a0that are\u00a0illegal but\u00a0also\u00a0disciplines\u00a0himself\u00a0to even\u00a0give up\u00a0his\u00a0freedoms\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0good things\u00a0he\u00a0enjoys\u00a0if it\u00a0might\u00a0hinder\u00a0his\u00a0best performance.\u00a0He\u00a0changes\u00a0his\u00a0diet,\u00a0disciplines\u00a0his\u00a0focus and mind,\u00a0adjusts\u00a0training regimens,\u00a0and\u00a0refrains\u00a0from certain\u00a0extracurricular activities\u00a0to\u00a0perform\u00a0at his\u00a0best.<\/p>\n As Christians, if we are wanting to\u00a0please\u00a0Jesus\u00a0Christ and\u00a0run well,\u00a0we must throw off everything that hinders\u00a0us\u00a0in our personal lives at home.<\/p>\n \u201clet us throw off\u00a0everything\u00a0that hinders.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n For example,\u00a0a good leisure activity like reading an encouraging book\u00a0might not be a bad thing.\u00a0 However,\u00a0as a husband I\u00a0often\u00a0must\u00a0throw off\u00a0my desire\u00a0to enjoy a book by myself\u00a0when I am with my children,\u00a0since I only have so much time to be with them\u00a0each evening.<\/p>\n I want to be a good steward of my\u00a0home.\u00a0However,\u00a0I might need to throw off the desire for cultivating the perfect lawn,\u00a0so I am not\u00a0neglecting cultivating the hearts of my children\u00a0by reading, teaching,\u00a0and\u00a0serving my family.\u00a0I\u00a0may\u00a0need to throw off the TV in the living room,\u00a0if it is hindering quality time in\u00a0hospitality with neighbors and guests in our home.<\/p>\n There are also likely sinful habits\u00a0at home\u00a0that are entangling\u00a0me,\u00a0tripping\u00a0me\u00a0up,\u00a0and hindering\u00a0spiritual growth,\u00a0because\u00a0I\u00a0am\u00a0not throwing\u00a0them off.<\/p>\n \u201clet us throw off\u00a0\u2026\u00a0the sin\u00a0that so easily entangles.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Prayerlessness\u00a0might\u00a0indicate\u00a0sinful independence and pride\u00a0(James 4:1-4).\u00a0Constantly buying\u00a0things\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0home might show\u00a0greed, discontentment, and a\u00a0lack of\u00a0self-control\u00a0(Ecclesiastes\u00a05:10).\u00a0Anger at the children when they break something might show\u00a0sinfully\u00a0valuing material riches over eternal riches\u00a0(Colossians 3:1,\u00a08). The\u00a0desire to turn to television and neglect home responsibilities\u00a0may indicate slothfulness and a lust for comfort and ease\u00a0(Ecclesiastes\u00a010:18).<\/p>\n Every runner knows\u00a0that\u00a0you\u00a0must\u00a0keep your eyes\u00a0focused\u00a0in front of you. You don\u2019t look to\u00a0the left or right. You don\u2019t focus on the other competitors.\u00a0You keep your focus\u00a0on the\u00a0goal of the finish line until you finish the race.<\/p>\n \u201cfixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n As Christians in\u00a0our\u00a0homes\u00a0we need to proactively fix our eyes and gaze on Christ.\u00a0What\u00a0gospel truths\u00a0about\u00a0our pioneer and\u00a0perfecter\u00a0of\u00a0faith are we\u00a0actively choosing to meditate on while at home\u00a0(Colossians\u00a03:16)?\u00a0Are we\u00a0getting time alone to go and pray with the Lord,\u00a0so\u00a0we\u00a0can be best prepared to minister to\u00a0our family,\u00a0friends, and\u00a0coworkers (Mark 1:35)?\u00a0Are we\u00a0regularly singing and declaring his excellencies and praises (1 Peter\u00a02:9)?<\/p>\n As we seek to faithfully\u00a0follow Christ\u00a0at home,\u00a0we must expect opposition\u00a0and\u00a0learn to\u00a0depend on the endurance and strength of Christ,\u00a0so that we will not lose heart.<\/p>\n \u201cConsider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n We will face opposition from our own sinful flesh\u00a0(Galatians 5:16-17). Our sinful desires\u00a0will cry out\u00a0in all sorts of ways:\u00a0\u201cI need more\u00a0sleep,\u201d \u201cI need to see that\u00a0show or\u00a0movie,\u201d\u00a0or\u00a0\u201cI need\u00a0peace and quiet.\u201d<\/p>\n We will face opposition from other sinners in our home\u00a0(Matthew 10:34-39;\u00a0Luke 12:51-53).\u00a0Expect children to push back, whine, complain, manipulate, argue,\u00a0or disobey\u00a0to get what they want.\u00a0Be prepared to face opposition from your spouse\u00a0as following Christ will\u00a0likely\u00a0confront sinful patterns and behaviors in their life.\u00a0Often\u00a0what hinders and entangles our own lives are influencing\u00a0the lives of our spouses.<\/p>\n We will also face opposition from\u00a0the anti-god values\u00a0and beliefs\u00a0of our world\u00a0through the\u00a0TV, news outlets,\u00a0workplace, and other relationships (1 John\u00a02:15-17). We must be prepared to battle\u00a0these anti-god values with God\u2019s values. Confront\u00a0these\u00a0lies with God\u2019s truth.\u00a0Exchange the\u00a0world\u2019s\u00a0commitments and priorities with God\u2019s priorities.<\/p>\n We should also expect to endure opposition from\u00a0spiritual\u00a0forces of evil\u00a0(Ephesians 6:12-20),\u00a0which is why we need to proactively\u00a0prepare with the spiritual resources we need for the battle.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s\u00a0run.\u00a0Let\u2019s run with perseverance.\u00a0 Let\u2019s run\u00a0with\u00a0the encouragement of the champions who have gone before us.\u00a0 Let\u2019s run\u00a0by throwing off everything that weights us down and trips us up.\u00a0Let\u2019s run by fixing our focus on Jesus, our example.\u00a0\u00a0Let\u2019s run even if we face opposition.\u00a0 Let\u2019s run like the race really matters, even when we are only running at home by ourselves.\u00a0 Let\u2019s run!<\/p>\n Photo by\u00a0Holger Link<\/a>\u00a0on\u00a0Unsplash<\/a><\/small><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Consider the\u00a0Encouragement\u00a0of Your\u00a0Cheering\u00a0Section<\/h2>\n
Throw Off Everything That Hinders and Sin That Entangles<\/h2>\n
Fix Your Eyes on Jesus<\/h2>\n
Consider\u00a0Christ\u2019s Endurance\u00a0When Opposed<\/h2>\n
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