As I was thinking through yesterday’s post, and scheduling out my time as I said I would, I was reminded of Hebrews 12. The end of verse 1 is quoted often: “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” It is a great motivational phrase, but the key to accomplishing it is really in the first part of the verse. The whole verse reads:
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
Who are these witnesses? They are the great heroes of faith from chapter 11. Their stories include laying aside their sins and all the baggage of their own lives for what God has called them to do. The verse says, “Let us also lay aside.” This is what they had to do. Getting rid of the weight and the sin is why they are in chapter 11. Without these burdens, we can finish well in the race of faith, just as they did before us.
The goal of the race is also significant. Verse 2 says, “Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of God.” Jesus is to whom we are running. He also ran the race himself. Jesus came to the earth with the sole purpose of providing a way of reconciliation with God in everlasting life, and He did so through the cross. Deciding to follow Him is the most crucial step. Once we make that decision, we have entered the race.
So how does this fit into my scheduling crisis? My ultimate goal is to run well towards God. In order to do that, I need to let go of the things that weigh me down. I must be diligent with my time. In reflecting on how I spend my time, I realized I was not really accomplishing anything because I was allowing so many other distractions. My schedule is now more like a game plan of how I need to use my time in order to be perform well in the race.
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