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Hebrews 12:1-3 - THE RACE OF FAITH - RUNNING WITH JESUS.

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NLT) Therefore, since we are 
surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the 
life of faith, let us strip off every weight that 
slows us down, especially the sin that so easily 
trips us up. And let us run with endurance the 
race God has set before us. 2 We do this by 
keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who 
initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy 
awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its 
shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor 
beside Gods throne. 3 Think of all the hostility 
he endured from sinful people; then you wont 
become weary and give up. 

COMMENTARY PEARL

   God wants you to be healthy in every area 
of your life " mentally, emotionally, 
spiritually, and physically. For mental health, you must 
focus your mind on the right things. 
   1. Think about Jesus.
   Youve heard the saying, You become 
what you think about most. If you want to 
become more like Jesus, you have to fill your 
thoughts with him. 
   Hebrews 12:3 says, Think about 
Jesus example. He held on while wicked people were 
doing evil things to him. So do not get tired and 
stop trying (NCV). 
   2. Think about others.
   The Bible says in Philippians 2:4, 
Dont just think about your own affairs, but be 
interested in others, too, and in what they are 
doing (TLB). 
   Do you realize how countercultural that 
is? Our world teaches you to think about 
yourself and nobody else. But Jesus was 
countercultural, and when you think about him, youll more 
naturally think of others. 
   3. Think about eternity.
   No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and 
no mind has imagined what God has prepared for 
those who love him (1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT). 
When you start focusing on truths like that, all 
of your problems seem inferior compared to the 
glory, the joy, and the pleasure of the things 
awaiting us in eternity. 
   Your mind is your greatest asset and also 
the greatest battleground. Ask God to help you 
make the choice every day to feed on Gods 
Word, free your mind of destructive thoughts, and 
fill your mind with Jesus, others, and eternity. 
Then youll have won the battle. [Daily 
Devotional by Rick Warren: 
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/ re vs. 3] 

COMMENTARY

Stripping Off

Times to Say No
   The most important word to remember for 
your spiritual journey may be a surprising one: 
no. 
   Your faith journey is a long one. Too 
many people start off well in their spiritual 
journey but putter out before the end. God wants you 
to go the distance. 
   Youve got a marathon ahead of you, and 
you cant run the marathon with a barbell in 
your hands. Often people quit their faith journey 
early because everything theyre carrying wears 
them out. 
   We need to de-clutter.
   A cruise liner can get pretty fast in the 
middle of the water.  If you add a hundred 
lifeboats to it, itll slow down. 
   Plug a battery into one lightbulb, and 
itll go a long way. Plug it into 15, and it 
drains quickly. Plug it into 100, and itll drain 
even more quickly. 
   Thats what happens to us when we try 
to do too much. We need to learn to say 
no to some things that are good because they 
keep us from doing our best. 
   Hebrews 12:1 says, Let us strip off 
every weight that slows us down (NLT). 
   Weights arent bad. Theyre not 
sinful. Theyre just unnecessary. It could be a 
job, a relationship, or a hobby. Its something 
that slows you down from what God wants from your 
life. And its not worth it. [Daily Devotional 
by Rick Warren: 
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/] 

Avoiding Excess Baggage
   When I travel, I typically take way too 
much stuff. Suitcases on wheels are great - until 
you hit carpet or asphalt. So my philosophy is 
that if I cant carry it, I shouldnt take 
it. The weight slows me down. 
   This is true in the Christian life as 
well. If youre running a race and someone is 
hanging on to you, is that a productive relationship 
for winning a race? 
   When God told Abraham to leave his 
country and family, Abraham took along his nephew 
Lot, who was like a spiritual dead weight. It 
caused conflict with Abraham, and ultimately the 
two had to part ways. 
   Like Abraham, sometimes we have 
relationships that are hurting us in the race of life. So 
periodically we have to take stock of our relationships 
and ask ourselves, Is this a good 
relationship for me? Is this person speeding me up or 
slowing me down? Is this relationship building me 
up, or is it tearing me down? 
   We need to run the race with godly people 
who spur us on, not with ungodly people who slow 
us down. So look for godly friends. And more 
important, be a godly friend. 
   Hebrews 12:1 tells us, Let us lay 
aside every weight, and the sin which so easily 
ensnares us (NKJV). Theres a distinction. Sin 
is sin. But then there is the weight. And what 
may be a weight for one person is not 
necessarily a weight for another. You might say, 
Look, that Christian is doing thus and so, and 
theyre okay. Why cant I do it? Youre not 
that person. Maybe it doesnt affect them in 
the same way it affects you. 
   Is there someone or something that is 
slowing you down? Lay aside the weight and the sin 
that so easily hinders you. [By Greg Laurie from 
Harvest Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com] 

Enduring Patiently 

Taking Baby Steps 
   Its no accident that the Bible 
routinely refers to the Christian life as a race. Just 
like in a long-distance race, you must be patient 
to grow as a Christian. The Bible says, Let 
us run with patience the particular race that 
God has set before us (Hebrews 12:1 TLB). 
   You wont finish this race in a week, a 
month, or even a year - it will take your whole 
life. Gods plan for making you into the person 
he wants you to be requires a lifetime 
commitment. 
   You cant short-circuit that kind of 
growth. 
   When you become a Christian, you start 
growing quickly. Its like babies in the early 
months - they grow enormously fast during that 
first year. But you dont continue growing as 
quickly the rest of your life. 
   Growth - both physical and spiritual - 
slows down. Its stable and secure over a period 
of time. God isnt in a hurry for you to 
grow. You might be, but he isnt. 
   This is why you need to start with simple 
steps toward growth. If you take one or two baby 
steps every week, youll be much further down 
the road of growth at the end of the year than 
you would be otherwise. 
   Christian living isnt one big leap 
across the Grand Canyon. Its a journey of baby 
steps - one step at a time. [Daily Devotional by 
Rick Warren: https://pastorrick.com/devotional/] 

The Strength to Endure
   How easily Jesus could have said, You 
know what? Forget this. No one here appreciates 
me. Im not dying for these people. They 
dont deserve it. 
   After all, think about what He had to 
face. His own disciples effectively abandoned Him. 
Judas Iscariot, His friend, betrayed Him. Then He 
was beaten physically, with fists to His face. 
His beard was ripped out. A crown of thorns was 
pressed on His forehead. His back was ripped open 
with Roman whips. He was jeered and laughed at 
and spit on. And then He was nailed to a cross. 
   It was His love for us that kept Him 
going. We read in Hebrews that because of the 
joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, 
disregarding its shame (12:2 NLT). What was the joy 
awaiting Him? It was you. It was me. It was us. He 
did it for us. He knew there was no other way 
that we could be made right with the God that we 
had offended. 
   Verse 2 also tells us that Jesus is 
the champion who initiates and perfects our 
faith (NLT). God finishes what He starts. He will 
complete the work in us. 
   You might say, Greg, I cant go on 
another day. 
   Yes, you can. Get your eyes off yourself. 
Look at Jesus. Think of what He did for you. 
Think about how He went to the cross for you. 
Hes the one who will give you the strength to 
endure. 
   When you take your eyes off the Lord and 
put them on people or on the church or on 
circumstances, you will start to stumble. Get your eyes off 
those things and look at Jesus. He will never fail 
you. He will never let you down. He will keep you 
running in the race of life. [By Greg Laurie from 
Harvest Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com re 
vs. 3] 

LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE

Hebrews 12:1, 2: Want To Be Like Jesus? 
Spend Time With Him:  

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20191124-1457.html 

Hebrews 12:1, 2: The Race of Faith is 
Looking Unto Jesus!:  

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2017/20170928-0839.html 

YOUR COMMENTS

If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or 
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either 
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in 
hearing from you.  Thanks in advance and let's keep 
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred 
Gibbs  

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

Most Important Decision in Life: 
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0 

A Man without Equal by Bill Bright: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo 

Seeking God Made Real: 
http://vimeo.com/31489782 

Prayer Made Real: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE 

Importance of Choice: 
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]  

Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David 
DeRose, MD, MPH: 
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart 

LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES 

Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: 
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/ 

Amazing Facts Bible Studies: 
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx  

Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: 
http://www.bibleresearch.info/ 

LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS

The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug 
Batchelor: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK 

Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657  

Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW (Live 
Series): 
https://www.discoverhopeawakens.com/webinar-registration-21585698406854