"Follow Me"
Day Six
Increasing Endurance
“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. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the
author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy
set before him 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 sinful
men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Hebrews 12:1-3
When a dedicated athlete is in a race, his mind is
so focused on achieving a successful result, the agony
he is sure to experience becomes a minor detail.
The race itself is not a pleasant experience.
Muscles ache and quickly go numb, yet the athlete doesn’t
lose heart. His lungs burn as he struggles to gasp for
oxygen, yet he still pushes on. Lactic acid builds around
his neck muscles and head, his vision blurs and there
comes a growing pain across his forehead, yet still
he refuses to give up. He endures all this to finish
strongly.
Often we compare the Christian life to an athlete running
a race. But many times we don’t fully grasp the incredible
pressure and pain faced by an athlete striving to finish
successfully. We run the Christian race enduring things
like death, disease, rebellious children and broken
families. Endurance just isn’t fun. It hurts. It gets
out of control sometimes, and its results can be uncertain.
Jesus understands. When we think that the race can’t
get any harder, Jesus understands. He endured for us
so that we may not only endure with him, but,
just as importantly, endure through him. God
never intended for us to endure by ourselves, so he
had his Son endure the cross for all of us. Jesus endured
alone, so that we wouldn’t have to. He hung in solitude
so that we might follow. We can endure with him by our
side and because we are equipped with his power.
Pray Today
Thank Jesus for his incredible endurance, and pray
for his endurance to be your endurance.
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