“Wherefore seeing also we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us…”

Hebrews 12:1

Explanation:

1. The motivation for the run… witnesses

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,”

The preacher has just taken us on a tour of Old Testament History and fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy that points us to Jesus Christ. He has shown us the supremacy of Christ at an incredible level. He uses the illustration of a stadium full of those who have gone before and been faithful. It’s like they are sitting in the stands watching what we are going to do, how we are running, and cheering us on. Part of our motivation for running is to do honor to those who have run before. They’ve handed us the baton so to speak.  Will we drop it?  Will we mess up?  Will we lose faith?  Will we lose heart? They endured.  God was faithful to them.  He will be faithful to us.

2. The preparation for the run… 

“Let us lay aside every weight,  and the sin which doth so easily beset us…” 

When a runner runs, they do not run in a three piece suit with dress shoes. They do not run in overalls and heavy boots. They run with very light clothing.   Running shoes are not known for being heavy, but light and tough. The runner tries to get rid of everything that could weigh them down in the course of the race.

Here there is a distinction between weight, and the besetting sin. Certainly sin can weigh us down and keep us from running a good race.  That is obvious, and it should not be controversial that this is a problem. There are things that are “weights” that are not necessarily immoral but that could become so when they keep us from running the race.  I believe that this is anything that could cause us to lose focus, and be prioritized over what is most important.

3. The mentality for the run… Patience

“And let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”

Here an attitude is given to us.   The word is patience.  A synonym for this word is endurance. A race has been set before us.  It is a race that happens in this life.  Everything in this life impacts eternity. We have been called to live by faith for the Lord, being salt and light in this generation. We’ve been called to be on his mission with his vision for the world. We’ve been handed the Gospel.  We have been given the great commission.

Endurance takes sustainability.  What do I mean? When we keep those weights and that sin in our lives, it keeps us from running very long or very far. There are certain things that will cause us not to make it.That means even small decisions in our lives could become impactful later.

Application:

1. Do the examples of those who have gone before inform my conscience, mind, and behavior?  
2. Is there something sinful that is keeping me from running this race well?  
3. Is there something that isn’t inherently sinful but is a weight keeping me from being faithful to Christ?
4. Do I have a mind, and heart for endurance?  Is there some behavior that I’m doing or not doing that will keep me from running with patience/endurance?

Response:

Heavenly Father, It’s a long run. You know what it means to live for you. Please help me to live for you with endurance! Amen