Running with a Team

1 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, 2 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).  

In middle school, both of my kids ran Cross Country.  The coach encouraged them to run the course trying to beat their own time, not to compare themselves to others.  Although they were running individually, they were not running alone.  They were part of a team.  At the first meet I ever attended, my heart melted as I watched the kids who finished first run back down the sideline, cheering on and running alongside the other kids from their school until the last one came in.  

The author of Hebrews compares our walk in faith to running a race.  Just before this in chapter 11, we have a list of others who have already ran their race, commonly referred to as “Faith Heros.”  In spite of their sin and life circumstances, by faith they finished well.  Most importantly we have Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, for the joy set before Him, He made the way,  so that we could be in the race.  

19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 6:19-20, ESV).

He endured the cross, despised its shame, and now sits at the right hand of the Father.  Saving to the uttermost, He now intercedes for those still on the race to finish well to eternal life.   

25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them (Hebrews 7:25, ESV).

As believers in Christ, each one of us are running our own race.  We carry around our weight of sin and other life stuff that drags us down, and sometimes it makes the journey hard to endure.  Individually we have our differences, however, we also have many similarities.  

The other day, I was listening to a message from Dr. Henry Cloud.  The message was on the Power of the Other, the importance of having “true community” in our lives.  Our first and foremost community is with God, but it is also vitally important to have real connected relationships with others.   Having true community in our lives, not only helps us endure through the hard times, but overall it increases our well being emotionally and physically.  Although our walk in faith is compared to a race we run individually, it’s a race we were never meant to run alone.  Having true community, having a team is extremely important as we continue on our faith journey.  There is great encouragement of being surrounded by witnesses, those who ran before us and (might I add) those who run alongside of us, all because Jesus made the way for us.  

Are you running the right race, knowing that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and the only way to the Father? (John 14:6)

Are you running with a team that challenges and encourages you to finish well?

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we thank You for sending Jesus to endure the cross, despising its shame, and His joy of providing the Way for us.  We thank You for the examples of others who by faith ran ahead of us, and Lord we thank you for those who continue to run the race alongside of us.  I pray Lord, we would remember as believers in Christ, we aren’t running alone, but on a team headed for the same final destination - salvation!  May we encourage and strengthen each other to finish well!  In Jesus Name, Amen.