Sermon - Jeff Raines - Running with Perseverance [Hebrews 12:1-3]

There’s never a bad time to set a good goal. 

Goals really can move and change us and challenge us.  Over the next six weeks, we’re going to be talking about goal setting, aligning ourselves with the Great Commission and the Baptist World Alliance’s 2033 mission. 

Today we’re thinking about goals as in Hebrews 12:1-3:

“Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.  For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” 

This is one of several places in scripture that compares the Christian walk to running.  Here, Hebrews is describing a RELAY RACE - hidden in the word “therefore.” Just before these verses in Hebrews 11, we see the faithfulness of those who have gone before us- the great cloud of witnesses as described in this hall of fame of the faith - “the world was not worthy of them.” 

It’s essential in a relay race for the next person to take the baton and be ready to run! 

When we set a goal, we choose to do some things and NOT to do others.  In our case, we leave behind the sin that weighs us down- that so easily entangles. 

This is an endurance race and we are to run with perseverance.  It's a marathon, not a sprint- we have to keep going. 

We have a perfect model in Jesus- the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.  Keeping our focus on Jesus helps us not to lose heart.  Hebrews 12 doesn’t tell us to run harder- it tells us how to run. 

Let’s run.  Together!