| “For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” – Hebrews 12:3 |
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| EQUIPPED TO ENDURE God has a RACE He wants you to RUN, and it is a difficult race. It will take ENDURANCE. Notice Hebrews 12:1-2 as it says, “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 with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 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.” The writer of Hebrews is now a COACH who is going to EQUIP God’s runner on HOW to RUN THEIR RACE. He tells the runner to PREPARE to run by getting rid of the things that would HINDER them. The runner is going to have to CONCENTRATE. They cannot have the cares of this world weighing them down. The runner is going to have to be CONSECRATED. The runner cannot be practicing sin for sin ENSNARES or TRAPS and TRIPS up the runner. Practicing sin may bring about a DISQUALIFICATION. (See 1 Cor. 9:27 and 2 Timothy 2:5) Then to run God’s race the RUNNER must have ENDURANCE. ENDURANCE. It means there is within a person a COMMITMENT to finishing no matter what. When one is enduring they are REMAINING under the pressure. More than giving inspiration to run the writer gives instruction on how to run. The instructions are to LOOK AT JESUS. It is to SEE HIS EXAMPLE. It is to see how HE ENDURED in the face of hostility. The instructions are to CONSIDER what JESUS did as He faced hostility. Ponder what Jesus did do and didn’t do. We know that Jesus did not quit but we need to know WHY He did not quit. Why did He not quit? HE KNEW HIS PURPOSE!! HE KNEW GOD’S PLAN! He had PURPOSED from the very beginning to be about His Father’s business (Luke 2:49) . What He did do was SURRENDER completely in the garden of Gethsemane, saying NOT MY WILL BUT YOUR WILL BE DONE! He decided to be OBEDIENT to the Father’s purpose and plan for His life. In being EQUIPPED TO ENDURE you look to Jesus and CONSIDER CHRIST and how He endure. Draw more than inspiration from His enduring hostility. Draw insights on why He NEVER QUIT. If you don’t do so you are going to become weary and discouraged running your race. This world is no friend of the committed Christian. It will be hostile to you. Jesus said if they hated Him, they are going to hate us. Thus, get equipped to endure and then run with endurance! The verse to DATE the Word on December 3 (12/3) is Hebrews 12:3. It says, “For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” With consideration of Christ, KEEP ON RUNNING the RACE He has set before you! Continue Strong looking to Jesus! And remember to DATE THE WORD |