Hebrews 12:1, 2 - In Tune With Jesus!

Heb.12:1, 2; In Tune With Jesus!

Heb 12:1, 2 (KJV)  Wherefore seeing we also 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,  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 is set down at the right 
hand of the throne of God. 

Heb 12:1, 2 (NCV)  We have around us many people whose lives 
tell us what faith means. So let us run the race that is before us 
and never give up. We should remove from our lives anything that 
would get in the way and the sin that so easily holds us back.  Let us 
look only to Jesus, the One who began our faith and who makes it 
perfect. He suffered death on the cross. But he accepted the shame as if 
it were nothing because of the joy that God put before him. And now 
he is sitting at the right side of God's throne. 

RUN WITH PERSEVERANCE; The Christian life is pictured as a 
long-distance race rather than a short sprint. [NIV SB] 

FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS; Just as a runner concentrates on the 
finish line, we should concentrate on Jesus, the goal and objective of 
our faith. [NIV SB] 

PERFECTER OF OUR FAITH; Our faith, which has its beginning in 
Jesus, is also completed in him; he is both the start and the end of 
the race. He is also the supreme witness who has already run the 
race and overcome. [NIV SB] 

The Christian life involves hard work. It requires us to give up 
whatever endangers our relationship with God, to run patiently, and to 
struggle against sin with the power of the Holy Spirit. To live 
effectively, we must keep our eyes on Jesus. We will stumble if we look away 
from him to stare at ourselves or at the circumstances surrounding 
us. We should be running for Christ, not ourselves, and we must 
always keep him in sight. [Life Application SB] 

In the epistle to the Hebrews is pointed out the single-hearted 
purpose that should characterize the Christian's race for eternal life: 
"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, 
looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith." Hebrews 12:1, 
2. Envy, malice, evil thinking, evilspeaking, covetousness--these 
are weights that the Christian must lay aside if he would run 
successfully the race for immortality. Every habit or practice that leads 
into sin and brings dishonor upon Christ must be put away, whatever 
the sacrifice. The blessing of heaven cannot attend any man in 
violating the eternal principles of right. One sin cherished is sufficient 
to work degradation of character and to mislead others.  AA312 

Enoch kept the Lord ever before him, and the Inspired Word says 
that he "walked with God." He made Christ his constant companion. He 
was in the world, and performed his duties to the world; but he was 
ever under the influence of Jesus. He reflected Christ's character, 
exhibiting the same qualities of goodness, mercy, tender compassion, 
sympathy, forbearance, meekness, humility, and love. His association with 
Christ day by day transformed him into the image of Him with whom he 
was so intimately connected. Day by day he was growing away from his 
own way into Christ's way, the heavenly, the divine, in his thoughts 
and feelings. He was constantly inquiring, Is this the way of the 
Lord? His was a constant growth, and he had fellowship with the Father 
and the Son. This is genuine sanctification (RH April 28, 1891).