OUR DAILY BREAD : FAITHFUL TO THE FINISH

[cimi]

April 24
Wednesday


FAITHFUL TO
THE FINISH

READ:
Hebrews 12:1-4
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Let us run with
endurance the race
that is set before us.
__Hebrews 12:1-4
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After running 32 kilometers (20 miles) of the Salomon Kielder Marathon in Great Britain, a runner dropped out and rode a bus to a wooded area near the finish line. Then, he re-entered the race and claimed third prize. When officials questioned him, he stated that he stopped running because he was tired.

Many of us can relate to the exhaustion of a worn-out athlete as we run the race of the Christian faith. The book of Hebrews encourages us to "run with endurance the race that is set before us" (12:1). Running with endurance requires that we lay aside the sin that stands in our way and shed the weights that hold us back. We may even have to press on through persecution (2 Tim. 3:12).

To prevent weariness and discouragement in our souls (Heb. 12:3), the Bible urges us to focus on Christ. When we pay more attention to Him than to our struggles, we will notice Him running alongside us__supporting us when we stumble (2 Cor. 12:9) and encouraging us with His example (1 Peter 2:21-24). Keeping our eyes on "the author and finisher of our faith" (Heb. 12:2) will help us stay close to the source of our strength and remain faithful to the finish. __Jennifer Benson Schuldt

```````````````````````````Turn you eyes upon Jesus,`````````````````````````
````````````````````````Look full in His wonderful face:````````````````````````
````````````````And the things of earth will grow strangely dim`````````````````````
`````````````````In the light of his glory and grace. __Lemmel```````````````````
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We can finish strong when we focus on Christ.

****************Today's Bible Reading __ Hebrews 12:1-4*******************

1 Therefore we also, since
we are surrounded by so
great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every
weight, and the sin which
so easily ensnares us, and
let us run with endurance
the race that is set before
us, 2 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 has sat down at
the right hand of the throne
of God.

3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from
sinners agains Himself, lest
you become weary and
discouraged in your souls.

4 You have not yet resisted
to bloodshed, striving
against sin.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Because of severe persecution, Jewish Christians were pressured to
abandon Christianity and revert to Judaism. The unnamed writer of
Hebrews wrote to encourage them by affirming the preeminence,
superiority, and sufficiency of Christ through His person and
position (chs. 1-4) and His work (chs. 5-10). To encourage them to
persevere in their faith, the author recounted examples of people
form their history who had remained faithful to the end (ch. 11).
In Hebrews 12, he challenged them to stay focused on Jesus, the
supreme example of perseverance and faithfulness, by remembering
what He had done for them on the cross (vv.1-2) and by imitating
Him in His suffering (vv.3-4). Just as Jesus was exalted through His
suffering, they too would be honored (v.3).