I. Remembrance of God’s Faithfulness (Deuteronomy 4:9)
Deuteronomy 4:9 MSG – Just make sure you stay alert. Keep close watch over yourselves. Don’t forget anything of what you’ve seen. Don’t let your heart wander off. Stay vigilant as long as you live. Teach what you’ve seen and heard to your children and grandchildren.
II. Celebrating the Present (Psalm 118:24)
Psalm 118:24 NIV – The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.
The Message
- The dedication required to run a marathon.
Imagine standing at the starting line of a marathon, surrounded by thousands of runners. Among them is Sarah, a first-time marathon runner, whose journey to this moment began a year ago. Sarah was not always a runner. In fact, the idea of running a marathon seemed impossible to her. Her lifestyle was sedentary, and her health, suboptimal. But a stirring challenge from a friend sparked something within her—a desire for change.
Sarah’s commitment did not come easy. The early mornings when the rest of the world was asleep, Sarah was up, lacing her running shoes. Rain or shine, her routine was unshakable. Each day was a battle against her own limits, a challenge to push a little farther than the day before.
Nutrition, sleep, training—her entire life underwent a transformation. Sundays became not just a day of worship but also the day of her long, arduous training runs. She had to resist temptations, from skipping training to indulging in unhealthy foods, all to keep her body and mind honed for the singular goal that lay months ahead.
What drove Sarah was more than the desire to cross the finish line; it was the journey, the transformation, the discipline she learned along the way. The marathon to her became a living parable of her faith journey—a testament to the scripture in Hebrews 12:1, ‘let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.’
As we gather here today, each of us is running a marathon of sorts in our spiritual lives. We are called to a similar dedication in our walk with Christ, to ‘lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely.’ Let us be inspired by Sarah’s dedication to her race as we consider our own spiritual discipline, the commitment required to run the race set before us with perseverance.”
This story can be used to draw a parallel between the dedication required to train for a marathon and the dedication required in the Christian life to pursue spiritual growth and holiness.
I. Laying Aside Every Weight (Hebrews 12:1a)
Hebrews 12:1 NIV [1a] 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.
- A. Identifying Our Encumbrances (1 John 2:16 “For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.”)
- B. The Sin That Clings So Closely (James 1:14-15 “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire…”)
II. Running with Perseverance (Hebrews 12:1b)
Hebrews 12:1 NIV [1b] And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
- A. The Race Set Before Us (1 Corinthians 9:24-25 “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.”)
- B. Perseverance in Trials (James 1:2-4 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds…”)
III. Looking to Jesus (Hebrews 12:2)
Hebrews 12:2 NIV [2] fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of 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.
- A. The Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith (Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”)
- B. For the Joy Set Before Him (Philippians 2:8-9 “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”)
IV. Consider Him Who Endured (Hebrews 12:3)
Hebrews 12:3 NIV [3] Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
- A. Against Hostility From Sinners (1 Peter 2:21 “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”)
- B. Lest You Grow Weary or Fainthearted (Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”)
Conclusion:
- Lay aside every weight and sin, to run with perseverance, and to keep our eyes on Jesus.
- Draw strength from considering Jesus, who endured the cross for us.
V. Embracing the Future with Hope (Jeremiah 29:11)
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV – For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Key Takeaways:
- Spiritual Focus: Identify and remove hindrances that impede our spiritual journey.
- Endurance: Commit to running the race with endurance, keeping faith through trials.
- Christ-Centered Life: Fix our gaze on Jesus, drawing inspiration from His example.
- Resilience: Stay strong in faith, resisting discouragement and spiritual fatigue.