Enduring Faith: Running the Race with Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Consider the Witnesses—Imperfect Saints as Encouragement

Everywhere we look in Scripture, we find stories of men and women who, though flawed and imperfect, demonstrated faithfulness to God and set an example for us to follow. These witnesses are not spectators in the stands, but rather living testimonies to God’s faithfulness and the possibility of perseverance, even for those who have stumbled along the way. Their lives remind us that perfection is not a prerequisite for joining the ranks of the faithful; rather, it is God’s grace that enables us to run the race. When we feel unworthy or insufficient, we can take heart that God welcomes imperfect people and uses their stories to encourage us to keep going. [09:51]

Hebrews 12:1 (ESV)
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,

Reflection: Who is one “imperfect” person of faith—biblical or in your own life—whose story encourages you to keep going? How can you let their example strengthen you today?

Day 2: Cast Off the Weights—Letting Go of Hindrances

Just as runners shed unnecessary weight before a race, we are called to lay aside anything that slows our spiritual progress, whether it is sin or even good things that have become distractions. Sometimes, the things that weigh us down are not inherently bad, but they can still hinder our effectiveness and joy in following Christ. We are also warned to reject sin, which clings so closely and entangles us, threatening to trip us up when we least expect it. By honestly examining our lives and surrendering both neutral distractions and sinful habits, we prepare ourselves to run with endurance and freedom, unencumbered by what once held us back. [13:22]

Hebrews 12:1b (ESV)
...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,

Reflection: What is one activity, possession, or habit—good or bad—that may be weighing you down spiritually? What practical step can you take today to lay it aside?

Day 3: Chase the Win—Running with Endurance

The Christian life is not a short sprint but a long, demanding race that requires endurance, determination, and a willingness to keep going even when the path is difficult. God has set the course before us, calling us to love, serve, and build up others, and to hold fast to our faith until the end. We are reminded to examine ourselves, ensuring that our confidence is truly in Christ, and to run with the intention of finishing well. The promise is that God has prepared good works for us, and with His strength, we can persevere and not give up, no matter how challenging the journey becomes. [20:30]

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Reflection: Where in your life do you feel tempted to give up or slow down in your faith journey? What would it look like to run with renewed endurance in that area today?

Day 4: Concentrate on the Winner—Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus

Our greatest source of strength and direction comes from fixing our eyes on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. He not only started the race but completed it perfectly, enduring the cross and despising its shame for the joy set before Him. When we become distracted or discouraged, we are called to refocus on Christ, drawing from His example and His victory. By centering our attention on Jesus, we find the motivation and clarity we need to keep moving forward, knowing that He has already paved the way and offers us His strength for every step. [24:02]

Hebrews 12:2-3 (ESV)
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. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Reflection: What is currently distracting you from focusing on Jesus? How can you intentionally shift your attention back to Him today?

Day 5: Embrace the Joy Set Before Us—Motivation for the Long Race

Jesus endured unimaginable suffering and shame because of the joy that was set before Him—the joy of glorifying the Father and bringing us into fellowship with God. In the same way, we are invited to embrace the hope and joy that await us, knowing that our struggles are temporary and our reward is eternal. This perspective empowers us to scorn shame, persevere through hardship, and look forward to the day when we will join Christ in His victory. Even now, we are united with Him, and His presence gives us the courage to keep running, knowing that the finish line holds unimaginable joy. [30:35]

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV)
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Reflection: When you face discouragement or shame, how can remembering the joy and glory set before you change your response? What is one way you can let that hope shape your attitude today?

Sermon Summary

Hebrews 12 calls us to a life of relentless faith, rooted in the reality that we are not alone in our journey. The stories of those who have gone before us—imperfect men and women who trusted God—surround us like a great cloud, not as passive spectators, but as living testimonies to God’s faithfulness. Their lives, recorded in Scripture, are not meant to intimidate us with their greatness, but to encourage us that God works through flawed people. We are invited to join their ranks, not by achieving perfection, but by trusting in Christ’s sufficiency, knowing that our adequacy comes from Him and not from ourselves.

The passage urges us to lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily entangles. Not all hindrances are inherently sinful; some are simply distractions or attachments that slow our spiritual progress. Like a runner shedding unnecessary gear before a race, we are called to examine our lives for anything—good or bad—that keeps us from wholehearted pursuit of Christ. Sin, on the other hand, is always destructive, clinging to us and tripping us up if left unchecked. The call is to radical honesty and readiness, casting off both the subtle and obvious obstacles to our walk with God.

The race set before us is not a casual jog, but an agonizing, lifelong contest that demands endurance. God Himself has marked out the course, and our calling is to run with perseverance, not giving up when the path is hard or the finish line seems distant. This is not a solitary effort; Christ has already run the race perfectly. He is both the founder and perfecter of our faith, the one who invented the course and completed it without fail. His motivation was the joy set before Him—a joy that included our redemption and the glory of returning to the Father.

Fixing our eyes on Jesus is the only way to run with endurance. He endured the cross, despised its shame, and now sits victorious at the right hand of God. His example shows us how to handle suffering, misunderstanding, and humiliation—not by shrinking back, but by looking forward to the joy that awaits. In Him, we find the strength to keep going, the perspective to scorn shame, and the hope of ultimate victory. The invitation is to keep the main thing the main thing: to not give up on Jesus, but to follow Him all the way, no matter the cost.

Key Takeaways

1. Our sufficiency is not found in ourselves, but in Christ alone. Even the apostle Paul confessed his inadequacy, yet found confidence in the sufficiency that God provides. This truth liberates us from the pressure to be “good enough” on our own and invites us to rest in the adequacy that comes through Christ’s Spirit working in us. When we feel unworthy or incapable, we remember that Christ makes us sufficient for every calling and challenge. [04:21]
2. The “cloud of witnesses” are not passive onlookers, but living testimonies to God’s faithfulness. Their stories, preserved in Scripture, surround us like a fog—ever-present reminders that God uses imperfect people to accomplish His purposes. Their example encourages us that perfection is not a prerequisite for faithfulness; repentance and trust are. We are called to be encouraged by their witness, knowing that God welcomes flawed people into His story. [09:51]
3. We must intentionally cast off both neutral weights and entangling sin to run the race well. Not every hindrance is sinful—some are simply distractions or attachments that slow us down. Like Alexander the Great’s soldiers who had to burn their plunder to regain their effectiveness, we too must be willing to let go of anything that impedes our spiritual progress, even if it is not inherently wrong. Sin, however, is always deadly, and must be ruthlessly abandoned if we are to run with endurance. [13:22]
4. The race of faith is marked by endurance, not speed or ease. God has set the course before us, and our calling is to persevere, even when the journey is agonizing. This endurance is not self-generated, but fueled by the hope and strength we find in Christ, who has already run the race perfectly. We are reminded to examine ourselves, ensuring that our confidence is truly in Christ, and to keep pressing forward, knowing that the finish line is worth every struggle. [20:30]
5. Fixing our eyes on Jesus transforms our perspective and empowers us to endure. Jesus is both the founder and perfecter of our faith, the one who endured the cross for the joy set before Him. His example teaches us to scorn shame, embrace suffering for a greater joy, and trust that ultimate victory is assured. By continually re-centering our focus on Him, we draw strength to not grow weary or lose heart, knowing that He invites us to share in His triumph. [24:02]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[04:21] - Our Sufficiency in Christ
[05:22] - The Purpose of Hebrews and Its Warnings
[07:37] - The “Therefore” and Application
[08:33] - The Cloud of Witnesses: Models of Faith
[09:51] - Witnesses as Testimonies, Not Spectators
[11:40] - Casting Off Weights and Sin
[13:22] - The Danger of Weights and Distractions
[20:30] - Running the Race with Endurance
[21:49] - Focusing on Jesus: The Supreme Example
[22:35] - Why We Look to Jesus
[24:02] - Jesus: Founder and Perfecter of Faith
[25:34] - The Joy Set Before Him
[27:40] - Scorning Shame and Embracing Suffering
[29:21] - Christ’s Victory and Our Hope
[30:35] - Living with Christ Now and Forever
[33:10] - Competing Tirelessly, Focused on Christ
[34:04] - Closing and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Hebrews 12:1-3 (ESV) — 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.
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Observation Questions

According to Hebrews 12:1, what two things are we told to lay aside before running the race of faith?
How does the sermon describe the “cloud of witnesses” mentioned in verse 1? Are they passive spectators or something else? [09:51]
What does the passage say about Jesus’ motivation for enduring the cross? [25:34]
In verse 3, what reason is given for considering Jesus’ endurance of hostility from sinners?

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says not all hindrances are sinful, but some are simply distractions or attachments. How might “weights” look different from “sins” in a believer’s life? [13:22]
The “cloud of witnesses” are described as living testimonies to God’s faithfulness, not perfect people. How does this understanding change the way someone might view their own struggles or failures? [09:51]
The race is described as “agonizing” and lifelong, not a casual jog. What does this suggest about the expectations for the Christian life? [20:30]
Why is it important, according to the sermon, to fix our eyes on Jesus rather than on ourselves or our circumstances? [24:02]

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to examine our lives for “weights” that slow us down, even if they aren’t sinful. What is one neutral thing in your life that might be distracting you from a wholehearted pursuit of Christ? What would it look like to “cast it off” this week? [13:22]
Sin is described as something that “clings so closely” and trips us up. Is there a particular sin that keeps entangling you? What practical step could you take to address it this week? [13:22]
The “cloud of witnesses” are flawed people who trusted God. How does knowing that God uses imperfect people encourage you in your own faith journey? Is there a specific story from Scripture or your own life that reminds you of this? [09:51]
The sermon says our sufficiency is not in ourselves, but in Christ. When do you most feel “not good enough” in your walk with God? How can you remind yourself of Christ’s sufficiency in those moments? [04:21]
Jesus endured the cross “for the joy set before him.” What is the “joy set before you” that helps you keep going when following Jesus is hard? [25:34]
Fixing our eyes on Jesus is described as the only way to run with endurance. What is one practical way you can re-center your focus on Jesus this week, especially when you feel weary or discouraged? [24:02]
The sermon invites us to “keep the main thing the main thing” and not give up on Jesus. What is one area of your life where you are tempted to give up or settle for less? How can your group encourage you to persevere? [33:10]

Sermon Clips

Sometimes you'll hear people try to encourage each other and say, you're good enough. And sometimes my brain goes back to the Bible and says, wait a minute, no you're not. But, but there's hope, there's good news that in Christ we can be good enough by His goodness. [00:04:21] (17 seconds) #GoodEnoughByGrace

We put Jesus back in the crosshairs of our focus so that we're really centering on him. He deserves to be first in our thinking, but it's also best for us to hold him there. So first of all, Jesus having our main attention, he's earned it, he is worthy of it from the beginning of time, from all time past. But we also need this in our lives. When we lose sight of Jesus, we become misdirected, delayed, detained, or backslidden in our path. [00:23:27] (31 seconds) #JesusFirstFocus

So Jesus invented the race, he's the author, he's the founder. He started this program. He also perfected it though, he ran the course perfectly. No failings, no errors. As perfecter, the sense here is that he's the leader. So someone might say that he's running a few steps before us, just kind of showing us the way, helping us set the pace. But he definitely completed the race perfectly. [00:24:07] (31 seconds) #JesusLeadsTheWay

So we're transformed when we look to Jesus. In 2 Corinthians, Paul says, And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. [00:25:09] (17 seconds) #TransformedByGlory

If that joy could help Jesus to conquer, what trouble can we experience that could compare to or eclipse his suffering? You know, we'll never encounter anything that will be worse than what Jesus experienced for us. [00:26:03] (16 seconds) #JoyConquersSuffering

He had accomplished his goal. Mankind had propitiation. The wrath of God was appeased because of Jesus' work. He had suffered that wrath as a perfect innocent Messiah. His job was done, and he sat down. He didn't just sit down anywhere, though. He had stabilized this new order that he had established. He could rest in peace and safety. His sovereignty is complete, though. And he sat down at the right hand of his father. He sat down to rule, to reign. [00:29:15] (35 seconds) #RestedRuler

``So he sat down to rule at the right hand of God the Father. And it's unimaginable joy that's set before us, because one day we'll join him there at the end of the race. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, Jesus said this, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. So imagine that. He, for the joy set before him, despised the shame, endured the cross, and he sat down at the right hand of the Father. And he invites us to sit down with him someday when we finish the race. [00:30:12] (34 seconds) #ThroneInvitation

So he did all this so that we could be delivered from death to life, but also to help us not give in to exhaustion, to provide resources for us to conquer trouble by taking our eyes off of ourselves and our circumstances and fasten our gaze on him, drawing strength from his limitless power. [00:32:19] (21 seconds) #StrengthFromHim

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