Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Faith – Hebrews 12:1-3 – Eyes On Jesus – Growing As Disciples
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 (NIV)
Run Well
I know that I am surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. There are many who have gone before me. There is a multitude of those who have run well. They have kept the faith. They have endured. They have run right up to the end of their lives and have successfully crossed the finish line. They have persevered through hardships and trials of every kind. How did they do it? How were they able to keep on running well? What kept them going? What spurred them on? Is that a rhetorical question or are you expecting me to answer your question? I am thinking out loud. I am wondering. Yes, I would you to answer my question. Your answer is right before you in my word.
What must you do if you want to run well? What must you do if you want to successfully cross the finish line of your race of faith? First, I need to throw off anything that would hinder me from running well. What will hinder you from running well? Sin of every kind would hinder me from running well. Being conformed to the patterns of this world would hinder me from running well. Give me some examples. Fear and doubt would hinder me from running well. Lust and addictions would hinder me from running well. Being self-centered, self-indulgent, and self-sufficient would hinder me from running well. Yes, all these would hinder you from running well. What must you do next if you want to run well? I must run with perseverance. I must not give up. I must not quit. I must keep moving forward with you. The race of faith is not a short race. It is not a sprint. It is more like a marathon. Yes, it is. How will you ever have enough endurance and perseverance to keep running the race of faith? My own endurance and strength would never be enough. The only way that I will be able to keep on running is by keeping my eyes on you. I will keep on following you to where you lead me. I will keep on doing what you ask of me. I will remember that you had joy in running your race of faith. It was your pleasure to do what your Heavenly Father asked of you. I will remember that you endured opposition from sinful men. You did not grow weary. You did not lose heart. You did not give up. You did not quit. Neither will I. That will be very good.
Lord, thank you for being the author and perfecter of my faith. I will keep my eyes on you so I will live the life of faith. Give me endurance and help me to throw off any hindrance to running the race you have laid out for me. Amen
For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:
Faith – Hebrews 12-1-3 – Eyes On Jesus – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide
Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.
Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.
By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved Copying not permitted www.GrowingAsDisciples.com
