READ: Hebrews 11 Focus vs. (39–12:3)
MEMORY VERSE
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1
BACKGROUND
It was impossible not to tear up at my friend Ira’s status update. Posted in 2022 only days after she’d left her home in Kyiv, the besieged capital of Ukraine, she shared a past image of herself lifting her country’s flag after completing a running event.
She wrote, “We are all running to the best of our abilities a marathon called life. Let’s run it these days even better than that. With something that never dies in our hearts.”
In the following days, I saw the many ways my friend continued to run that race, as she kept us updated on how to pray for and support those suffering in her country.
Ira’s words brought new depth to the call in Hebrews 12 for believers to “run with perseverance” (v. 1).
That call follows chapter 11’s moving account of the heroes of faith, the “great cloud of witnesses” (12:1) who’d lived with courageous, persistent faith—even at risk to their lives (11:33–38).
Even though they “only saw . . . and welcomed [God’s promises] from a distance” (v. 13), they were living for something eternal, for something that never dies.
All believers in Jesus are called to live that same way because the shalom—the flourishing and peace—of God’s kingdom is worth giving our all for. Christ’s example and power is what sustains us (12:2–3).
By: Monica La Rose
INSIGHT
What’s the role of “the great cloud of witnesses” in Hebrews 12:1? We might think they’re to serve as our examples of being faithful to run the race God has called us to.
However, after telling their stories and connecting their presence to the race of the Jewish believers in Jesus (and by extension to us; see ch. 11), we’re told to “run . . . [while] fixing our eyes on Jesus” (12:1–2) and to “consider him” when we’re tired and taxed by the race before us (v. 3).
Our encouragement doesn’t come from those who’ve gone before us and modeled faith; we don’t look to those awaiting perfection to find courage and strength. We find our strength in Christ alone.
A witness is someone who’s seen or heard or experienced something. The witnesses have already seen God’s faithfulness and testify to the need to focus on Jesus. They point us to Him.
By: J.R. Hudberg
APPLICATION
What examples have you seen of courageous faith? How does Jesus’ example give you hope?
PR’s (PASTOR RICHARD) TAKE
“Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step.
I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should… Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.” I Corinthians 9:24-27 nlt
PR’s RE-EMPHASIS (From Post)
All believers in Jesus are called to live for something eternal, for something that never dies.” (Adapted)
PRAYER
“Dear God, words fail me when I see Your people’s faith and courage in heartbreaking circumstances. Give me the courage to follow You like that.”
TODAY’s HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“I WILL RUN FOR THE PRIZE” Petra
Alone on the sidelines,
without any guidelines
You’ve been running too fast,
With no place to go
You’ve got no direction,
You gotta set your affection
On the things that can bring,
you right back in the flow
You got to run for the prize
Don’t look over your shoulder
Gotta keep your eyes
On the straight and narrow
Gotta run for the prize
There’s no time to be wandering
Gotta make your way
Just as straight as an arrow
You may be weary,
But you gotta be leary,
When somebody says that
you will never finish the race
They can discourage but
Don’t lose your courage
You gotta narrow the margin
and keep up the pace
Gotta lay aside every weight and
Run the race that’s before us
If we grow weary and faint,
The Father He will restore us
READING THROUGH THE ENTIRE BIBLE THIS YEAR DAILY
Deuteronomy 20-22
Mark 13:21-37
