Our Bible boost today centers around verses found in Hebrews 12:1-2, “let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”
I have a friend who is an “ultra marathoner”. I never knew there was such a thing until he ask me to go a “run” with him. Now you have to understand. I’m not a real runner, I’m not even a jogger, I am more of a plodder. I just plod along at my standard pace, getting exhausted and sweaty, but not trying to knock off my heart in one run.
Well, an ultra marathoner is one who goes on a run for 50, 100, 150 miles. Do you know what that means. He doesn’t run from block to block he runs city to city.
Here’s my point today. When we would go on runs called races there were always people along the way who would come out to the curb and cheer. That’s right. They would cheer us on. As we ran along we heard words of encouragement like, “you can do this”, “not much farther”, “you’re looking strong”, “you are almost there”.
Even my friend who is ultra marathoner would leave me far behind on these “runs”. But as I was just getting to the half way point those gazelles of super athletes would come back to us plodders and run along side of us to encourage us as we plodded to the finish line.
Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that so easily trips us up. AND, let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith”.
There you have it. We are on a spiritual journey in this life. It is a marathon and not a sprint. We need encouragement to help us stay the course and remain faithful. Much like those folks who came out from their houses to cheer us on as we ran our 5-K’s, 10 K’s, we need to cheer each other on, fellow companions in this race called life. You need me and I need you.
I can’t tell you how many times when I felt down or discouraged that someone would come along side me and give me an encouraging word by a telephone call, a letter or a up beat cheery card in the mail. WOW! What a great pick me up. I was truly blessed but more importantly I was encouraged to continue on in this journey called life.
Look around. There are many folks all around us who are running with us. Let us be an encouragement to them. So may I come along side you today and remind you of the words of Hebrews 12:2, “let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.”
Don’t give in. Don’t give up and NO COMPROMISE!
I am praying for you and your family,
Leonard Navarre
Lubbock, Texas
