Running IN Faith
Running in Faith: How to Endure the Christian Life Marathon
The Christian life isn't a sprint—it's a marathon that requires endurance, focus, and faith. Unlike earthly races where speed determines the winner, this spiritual race is about finishing well with our eyes fixed on Jesus. Every believer is called to run their own unique race, not someone else's, and the good news is we don't run alone.
What Does It Mean to Run in Faith?
Running in faith means living the Christian life as a lifelong journey of trust in God. It's not about competing with other believers or trying to live vicariously through someone else's spiritual experience. This race is personal—between you and God—and it requires daily commitment and endurance.
The writer of Hebrews reminds us that we are "compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses" and calls us to "run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:1-2).
Who Are the Cloud of Witnesses?
Learning from Those Who've Gone Before
The "great cloud of witnesses" refers to the faithful believers described in Hebrews 11—Abraham, Moses, Noah, Sarah, Rahab, Samson, and others. These weren't perfect people, but they were ordinary individuals who trusted God in extraordinary ways.
Their lives serve as testimonies that faith works. When we look at someone like Samson—despite his failures—being included in the hall of faith, we realize that anyone can live by faith if they trust God.
Modern-Day Examples
We also have contemporary witnesses—faithful saints who have lived by faith in our own lives. These might be parents, church members, pastors, or other believers whose examples encourage us to keep running when we feel like giving up.
Their legacy shouts to us: "Keep running!"
How Do We Remove the Weights That Slow Us Down?
Understanding Spiritual Baggage
The passage tells us to "lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us." Just as you can't run well through an airport carrying heavy luggage, you can't run the spiritual race while carrying unnecessary baggage.
These weights aren't always sinful things—they could be good things that have become too heavy or distracting. Just because you're not doing evil doesn't mean you're living by faith.
Common Weights That Hinder Our Race
Condemnation from Past Failures: Many believers carry guilt from past mistakes, thinking they can't serve God because of what they've done. This is excess baggage that God never intended us to carry.
Distractions and Misplaced Priorities: Good activities can become weights when they prevent us from focusing on what God has called us to do.
Unconfessed Sin: Sin trips us up and tangles our feet, stealing our joy and hindering our progress.
How to Lay Aside These Weights
Confession: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
Repentance: True repentance means doing a 180—stopping the wrong direction and going God's way instead.
Keep Short Accounts with God: Don't let sin accumulate. Deal with it quickly and regularly.
Make No Provision for the Flesh: Stay away from what causes you to stumble. Don't feed your flesh more than you feed your spirit.
Why Must We Keep Our Eyes on Jesus?
Jesus as the Author and Finisher
The key to running well is "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith." Our faith begins with Him and ends with Him. He's not just our example—He's our enabler and our goal.
Jesus Ran His Race First
Jesus endured the cross, despising the shame, "for the joy that was set before him." That joy was the prospect of redeeming us. He finished His race and now sits victorious at the right hand of God, promising victory to all who follow Him.
Where to Look When Life Gets Hard
You'll never run straight if you don't keep your eyes on the finish line, and Jesus is that finish line.
What Stage of the Race Are You In?
Every believer is in this race, regardless of age or spiritual maturity. You might be:
Near the Starting Line: Just beginning your faith journey, perhaps preparing for baptism or recently saved.
In the Middle Stretch: Keep your stride, don't look back, don't give up. Someone needs the example you're setting.
Near the Finish: Finish strong. Your endurance encourages others who are still running.
The call is the same for everyone: Run the race in faith.
Life Application
This week, take an honest inventory of your spiritual race. Are you running with unnecessary weights that are slowing you down? Perhaps it's guilt from past failures, distractions that have become too important, or unconfessed sin that's tripping you up.
Choose one specific weight you need to lay aside and take concrete steps to remove it from your life. This might mean confessing sin, changing priorities, or simply refusing to carry condemnation that God has already forgiven.
Most importantly, commit to fixing your eyes on Jesus daily through prayer and Bible study, remembering that He's both cheering you on and enabling you to finish well.
Questions for Reflection:
The Christian life isn't a sprint—it's a marathon that requires endurance, focus, and faith. Unlike earthly races where speed determines the winner, this spiritual race is about finishing well with our eyes fixed on Jesus. Every believer is called to run their own unique race, not someone else's, and the good news is we don't run alone.
What Does It Mean to Run in Faith?
Running in faith means living the Christian life as a lifelong journey of trust in God. It's not about competing with other believers or trying to live vicariously through someone else's spiritual experience. This race is personal—between you and God—and it requires daily commitment and endurance.
The writer of Hebrews reminds us that we are "compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses" and calls us to "run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:1-2).
Who Are the Cloud of Witnesses?
Learning from Those Who've Gone Before
The "great cloud of witnesses" refers to the faithful believers described in Hebrews 11—Abraham, Moses, Noah, Sarah, Rahab, Samson, and others. These weren't perfect people, but they were ordinary individuals who trusted God in extraordinary ways.
Their lives serve as testimonies that faith works. When we look at someone like Samson—despite his failures—being included in the hall of faith, we realize that anyone can live by faith if they trust God.
Modern-Day Examples
We also have contemporary witnesses—faithful saints who have lived by faith in our own lives. These might be parents, church members, pastors, or other believers whose examples encourage us to keep running when we feel like giving up.
Their legacy shouts to us: "Keep running!"
How Do We Remove the Weights That Slow Us Down?
Understanding Spiritual Baggage
The passage tells us to "lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us." Just as you can't run well through an airport carrying heavy luggage, you can't run the spiritual race while carrying unnecessary baggage.
These weights aren't always sinful things—they could be good things that have become too heavy or distracting. Just because you're not doing evil doesn't mean you're living by faith.
Common Weights That Hinder Our Race
Condemnation from Past Failures: Many believers carry guilt from past mistakes, thinking they can't serve God because of what they've done. This is excess baggage that God never intended us to carry.
Distractions and Misplaced Priorities: Good activities can become weights when they prevent us from focusing on what God has called us to do.
Unconfessed Sin: Sin trips us up and tangles our feet, stealing our joy and hindering our progress.
How to Lay Aside These Weights
Confession: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
Repentance: True repentance means doing a 180—stopping the wrong direction and going God's way instead.
Keep Short Accounts with God: Don't let sin accumulate. Deal with it quickly and regularly.
Make No Provision for the Flesh: Stay away from what causes you to stumble. Don't feed your flesh more than you feed your spirit.
Why Must We Keep Our Eyes on Jesus?
Jesus as the Author and Finisher
The key to running well is "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith." Our faith begins with Him and ends with Him. He's not just our example—He's our enabler and our goal.
Jesus Ran His Race First
Jesus endured the cross, despising the shame, "for the joy that was set before him." That joy was the prospect of redeeming us. He finished His race and now sits victorious at the right hand of God, promising victory to all who follow Him.
Where to Look When Life Gets Hard
- When life gets difficult: Look to Jesus
- When sin feels too heavy: Look to Jesus
- When you're weary from trying in your own strength: Look to Jesus
- When you've fallen again: Look to Jesus
You'll never run straight if you don't keep your eyes on the finish line, and Jesus is that finish line.
What Stage of the Race Are You In?
Every believer is in this race, regardless of age or spiritual maturity. You might be:
Near the Starting Line: Just beginning your faith journey, perhaps preparing for baptism or recently saved.
In the Middle Stretch: Keep your stride, don't look back, don't give up. Someone needs the example you're setting.
Near the Finish: Finish strong. Your endurance encourages others who are still running.
The call is the same for everyone: Run the race in faith.
Life Application
This week, take an honest inventory of your spiritual race. Are you running with unnecessary weights that are slowing you down? Perhaps it's guilt from past failures, distractions that have become too important, or unconfessed sin that's tripping you up.
Choose one specific weight you need to lay aside and take concrete steps to remove it from your life. This might mean confessing sin, changing priorities, or simply refusing to carry condemnation that God has already forgiven.
Most importantly, commit to fixing your eyes on Jesus daily through prayer and Bible study, remembering that He's both cheering you on and enabling you to finish well.
Questions for Reflection:
- What specific weights are currently slowing down your spiritual race?
- How can you better focus on Jesus rather than your circumstances or past failures?
- What would it look like for you to "run with patience" in your current life situation?
- Who in your life serves as part of your "cloud of witnesses," and how can their example encourage you to keep running?
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