By lap three of seven I was already exhausted. My trainer told me to give 80 percent of my best effort at first and build up to “200 percent on the final lap!” As I rounded the bend before that last lap, he shouted, “I need you to be throwing up at the finish line!” Unfortunately, I duly obliged. But I finished well and clocked a great time.
What motivated me to keep going? Two things: My trainer was watching my every stride and encouraging me each time I came around the track, and more important, I was focused intently on being fast enough to set a time that qualified me for my next stage in military training. If I did well, it meant I could reach my longed-for goal.
In Hebrews 12, the writer exhorts his readers to greater heights in their spiritual walk, citing the fact that they’re being watched by those who went before them as well as those with them now: “Since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd . . . let us run with endurance the race God has set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).
In these verses, we’re encouraged to shake off sin and not “give up” (Hebrews 12:1,3). Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we can focus on our goal of knowing and reflecting Jesus—not on gaining some human achievement (Hebrews 12:2). And we’re enabled to keep going by remembering His example and the reward He received. Christ endured to the end and never gave up. What He faced we’ll never have to experience, but we are blessed to share in His reward.
Let’s keep up the pace and finish the race by focusing on the Captain of our faith—Jesus our risen Lord. As He provides what we need, we can press on and one day share His reward. He gained the victory for us on the cross and provides the encouragement we need to press on!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Genesis 40:1-23
More:
Read 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 and think about what it means to run the race in Jesus to win the prize.
Next:
How deliberate are you in your spiritual training? Do you have a routine of study and prayer? What needs to change?
Gary Shultz on January 23, 2017 at 5:59 am
Hi Russell: We certainly need to focus, we certainly have a goal, and the reward will be sure for those who finish well. We don’t get to sit the run out either. Our decision to believe and surrender to Christ fired the start gun. It will be a long race, the race of our lives, and it will define us as we run. Even those who run with schedule and regularity must watch closely to be careful of the weight of small distractions that creep into the run. Sin bogs us down and we wonder why we have slowed. That’s when I need a coach too, to point out what has started to falter the pace. I need my trainer, I need instruction, care, and prayer, even though I know the path is mine, many run with us as well as ahead of us. We run one, we run all, we run all for One, our Lord Jesus. I do pray that the last laps are strong, as we have learned to run close in His foot steps. Thanks Russell,
tamrahiggs02 on January 23, 2017 at 8:43 am
This was very eloquently said Gary.
Tom Felten on January 23, 2017 at 2:28 pm
Gary, I love how you mentioned “we run one, we run all, we run for one, our Lord Jesus.” For it’s vital that we seek to run the race together—each one pointing other believers in Jesus to Him and to their true identity in Him.
don777 on January 23, 2017 at 6:22 am
Keeping my focus on & in JESUS, every day, all day. It is easy to be distracted from the things of this world. squirrel
Tom Felten on January 23, 2017 at 2:31 pm
hahaha . . . yep, “Squirrel!” I get it, don777. The “little foxes” and “squirrels” of life can sneak in and distract us from loving Jesus and others well. I’m grateful God has given us the Holy Spirit to continually draw us back to Him and to make sure our focus is true!