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Devotional | Scott Bartlow | Jan 15, 2023
Therefore since we are surrounded by such great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. – Hebrews 12:1
Did you know a marathon runner will take 55,000 steps with a certain stride length to complete a marathon, which is 26.2 miles for you non-runners? It's exhausting just thinking about the physical stamina it takes to complete a marathon.
My wife and I ran the 2010 Chicago Marathon. We decided to check this off our bucket list of experiences and had no clue what we were getting ourselves into physically.
We trained for an entire year, multiple days a week with a running group, with a specific method called the Galloway. It's a method where you walk for 30 seconds and then you run for 30 seconds. We quickly learned running a race is all about pace.
When we signed up for the marathon, we knew we weren't elite athletes, but we knew if we tempered our pace, we would take the same number of steps as those who would cross the finish line hours before we were done.
We learned the importance of training our bodies to endure a long race. That intensive training prepared us to have physical endurance as we ended up running multiple marathons before the actual race day. It started with a vision to accomplish something that felt impossible, followed by training and practice.
Several times in the Bible, our everyday life in Christ is described as a race.
The Apostle Paul says, “Therefore since we are surrounded by such great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1).
Every Christ follower is running a race, and we don't have the exact route God is going to take us on here on earth, but he is our guide; we fix our eyes on him to our final destination. So, how exactly can we run this race that is set before us?
The Apostle Paul reminds us we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses, those who have run this race before us—not only pointing us to our spiritual fathers in the hall of fame of faith in Hebrews 11, but even the gift of community in the Church. You aren't alone on this journey of life but have the local Church cheering you on no matter what life brings. You might be running at a crazy pace or a very slow pace. You might be feeling weary on this long race in your faith and want to give up. I want to encourage you to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, and know that a community of faith is running this race with you as we set our eyes together on the finish line.
I want to encourage you to look to Jesus for the vision for your life, training your soul for this Kingdom race! Ultimately, God will bring us to our long-awaited reward:
“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).
Life is not a sprint but a marathon. So, run the race that is set before you no matter how many steps you may have left. Take time to spiritually train your mind, heart, and soul through God’s Word, prayer, worship, and cultivating your faith in community. God has a calling for you to live by faith, be a voice of hope, and be known by love with every breath you breathe! Don't worry about the distance of the journey but fix your eyes on the prize found in Christ!
PRAYER
Father, thank you for the journey of life and the gift of my faith you have set before me. Help me keep my eyes fixed on Jesus and look to you for all that I need. Lord, strengthen me spiritually through the power of the Holy Spirit for the journey ahead! Amen!
Scott Bartlow
Campus Expansion Pastor
Scott Bartlow is the Campus Expansion Pastor at Crossings Community Church. He is passionate about helping people find and follow Jesus through church expansion!
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