HOW IS YOUR MARATHON?

My attention was drawn recently to Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of WITNESSES, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run THE RUN WITH ENDURANCE THE RACE that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

NLT Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially THE SIN THAT SO EASILY TRIPS US UP. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne

PASSION As for us, we have all of these great witnesses who encircle us like clouds. So we must LET GO OF EVERY WOUND THAT HAS PIERCED US and the sin we so easily fall into. Then we will be able to run life’s MARATHON race with passion and determination, for the path has been already marked out before us.

MESSAGE Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! NO EXTRA SPIRITUAL FAT, NO PARASITIC SINS. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.

The various translations has sure shed some light on some important truths in these two verses.

We know that our God is OMNISCIENT (all seeing & knowing) and here the writer tells us there is also a huge crowd of witnesses watching us, I think we need to get a revelation that everything we do is being watched by God and many witnesses who have gone on ahead of us.

I can’t remember any involvement in athletics when I was at school, so running has never been a part of my life, these days, my exercise is limited to walking and not very well. When I went for my walk this morning it was a major effort, and I was very tempted to turn around and go home, I didn’t but pushed myself to continue.

The writer says that the spiritual marathon we are in, requires ENDURANCE, and discipline and some practical points we need to constantly follow.

We must lay aside every weight (sin)

Like a runner we strip down to the minimum so that nothing slows us down

One translation reminds us about forgiving those that hurt us, and dealing with any spiritual fat or “parasitic sins!!!!

I trust you are not feeling discouraged and are tempted to stop running the race, YOU CAN AND WILL DO IT.

We are reminded the Christian life IS NOT A SPRINT, BUT A MARATHON.

We must ALWAYS 24/7 KEEP OUR EYES ON JESUS, HE IS THE SOURCE OF OUR STRENGTH TO RUN THE RACE (without Him we will not win).

This simple blog is to remind us all, we are in a race, we cannot relax, but be disciplined, the Lord has given us all we need to WIN THE RACE, and there is a crowd of Believers who have gone on ahead cheering us on and encouraging us too complete the marathon successfully amen