My Race is NOT Your Race

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. (Hebrews 21:1)

Yesterday while we were leaving church service, one of my children who shall go un-named  (with as much distaste as she could muster) said, "Mommy, I saw a kid eat candy the WHOLE service." Praise God who prompted me by His Holy Spirit to say, 

"You can't get one cavity from all the candy he ate."

Let us extrapolate Hebrews 21:1 for uno momento!

"Surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses"

That is so powerful! Praise God we are never alone! (Deuteronomy 31:6)

"life of faith"

LIFE! John 10:10 

"strip off"

Colossians 3:5-17 

Yep, that covers that!

"The race that GOD has set BEFORE US"

We run our race. We don't run anyone else's race. 

We cannot get even one "cavity" from candy that someone else "eats".  (John 15:1-17)

Every weight is EVERY weight. Every weight is not just the weight we feel like stripping off or is easy to strip off. "Every" defined is being each individual or part of a group without exception. (Mucho mahalos Merriam-Webster.com)

Weight is ANYTHING that holds us back or trips us up. In other words, what takes our eyes off Jesus? Does anything prevent us from operating in Matthew 6:33?

I understand there are some issues that arise that must be addressed. We biblically address them by:

• Praying (Matthew 6:33)
• Being spirit led not flesh led (Galatians 5:16-18)
• Addressing it in love (John 13:34-35)
• Trusting in the Lord (Proverbs 3:5, 6)
• Stripping it off (Hebrews 21:1)

 

To some, Gracie was rightfully bothered about the child eating candy in service yesterday. The plastic wrappers were a distraction to everyone who allowed it to distract them. Not to mention his refusal to share with his friends, his oral care, and blood sugar levels. But thank God the child was in church service, candy and all. Rather or not, we are in the "right", a trip up is a trip up and God's Word tells us to strip. it. off.

We must remain diligent in insuring no one's "candy" (behavior) keeps us from seeking God's kingdom first and operating outside love.

Father, I pray for every reader right now, in the name of Jesus we declare our eyes are fixed on You! We view others through a filter of love, Your unfailing love! We continually do a heart check and insure we immediately strip off every weight that tries to trip us up and we run our race with endurance! Thank You for teaching us and guiding us! But most of all, thank You for loving us! We glorify You and adore You! 

Your Race is Set!

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, (Hebrews 12:1 NKJV)

I read this scripture today and I saw something I've never seen before. 

"the race that is SET BEFORE us" Does this mean, we aren't just haphazardly bouncing from place to place but we have a race that He has set before us? 

What happens "in the natural" when a race is "set"? The Ironman was just completed on the Big Island. The Ironman is one big race! I've never been involved in setting a race so I am unsure of what all goes on behind the scenes prior to race day. I do know, for the Ironman,  there are parades, community events, highway and street closures, road blocks manned by police (do not ask me how I know that *grin*), store and bank closures, flights, hotels/resorts are booked, and there are no rental cars available. Triathletes fly in from all over the world to compete with local triathletes. There are Ironman Tshirts and memorabilia available for purchase everywhere we look. 

To further elaborate:

An Ironman Triathlon is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) consisting of a 2.4-mile (3.86 km) swim, a 112-mile (180.25 km) bicycle ride and a marathon 26.2-mile (42.2 km) run, raced in that order and without a break. Most Ironman events have a strict time limit of 17 hours to complete the race, where the Ironman race starts at 7:00 AM, the mandatory swim cut off for the 2.4-mile (3.9 km) swim is 2 hours 20 minutes, the bike cut off time is 5:30 PM, and all finishers must complete their marathon by midnight. The name Ironman Triathlon refers to both the original Ironman triathlon and the annual Ironman World Championship. Also called Ironman Hawaii, the world championships of the event, held annually in Hawaii since 1978 (with an additional race in 1982), are now preceded by a series of qualifying events. Ironman Triathlon became known for its grueling length, harsh race conditions, and television coverage.

Thank you Wikipedia!

So, experiencing the sights and sounds of Ironman and witnessing the preparations I COULD actually see made me think of "the race that is set before us".  The race that is set before us is no small event. 

• He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing! (Ephesians 1:3 NKJV)
• He has commanded His angels to keep charge over us in all our ways! (Psalm 91:11, NIV)
• His race is perfect! (Jeremiah 29:11)
• We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses! (Hebrews 12:1)

He has set the race for you!

Our Race

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. (Hebrews 12:1, NLT)

My girls are on swim team and we are right in the middle of swim season. It has been an exciting season!

Our team has an amazing coach. He is the perfect balance between fun, encouragement, perseverance, and discipline. We go to practice three times per week. Coach is on the pool deck where he has a higher vantage point and he can see the areas my girls need to work on and improve. During practice, Coach encourages them to practice their stroke, perfect their skill, build strength and endurance.

In between practices, we are in our pool, daily. Mike and I encourage our girls to listen closely to what Coach tells them and to swim according to his instruction. 

Their team uniform is sleek, high speed, low drag. They also wear a swim cap. No jewelry, etc is allowed because they don't wear anything that will weigh them down. 

One of the most moving things I've ever seen is their teammates standing on the pool deck screaming their names and cheering them on to finish! They scream, "Go! Go!" and "You can do this!" They start screaming as soon as the buzzer sounds and they don't stop screaming until after they help them out of the water. And then, they hug them, pat their backs, and tell them how great they swam. Even when they don't swim perfectly. 

Race day is not instruction day. Race day is not the time and place for practicing, building, or perfecting. When race day comes, there is no time for instruction. Race day is the result of everything they've done (or not done) in the days prior to the race. We are all there to cheer them on. But the one who swims the race, is Mikea and Gracie. They stand alone at the lane they are assigned. They alone cross the finish line. 

Our lives are much like swim team. For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:11, NLT) God is our Ultimate Coach! He gifts us apostles, prophets, evangelists,  pastors, and teachers (Ephesians 4:11, NLT). They are gifts from God and should be treated accordingly. God placed them in our lives to help us practice, perfect, and build us up. We are surrounded by huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith. And we are surrounded by amazing friends! Both stand on the sidelines of our lives and cheer us on until our race is finished! They all hold our feet to the fire and expect us to hold tight to His instruction! Everything we do (and don't do) contributes to how we run our race. We must train daily according to His Word, strip off every weight, consciously refuse to be weighed down, and run our race with endurance! 

The Race

Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us, Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1, 2)

My girls are on swim team this year and my whole family is very excited! There is just something about competitive sports! Even as I write this, I am filled with excited expectation of watching my girls compete! Today, Kohala...tomorrow Olympic Gold!

We are learning so much about competitive swimming. Swimming and breathing techniques are mastered. There is a specific swimsuit, swim cap, and goggles that each swimmer dons during races that deter drag. All jewelry is removed. There is much chatter regarding focus. 

During a recent practice race, I observed one of my girls lose her race because she was completely focused on the distractions around her instead of the finish line. Initially, she was ahead in the race but as she became more and more distracted by her surroundings, she grew further and further behind in the race. First she looked at her competitor, then as her team mates started to encourage her to swim faster, she looked at them. I walked to the front of the crowd to video her and she as soon as she saw me, she raised her head out of the water. All distractions that deterred her from winning her race.

During her race she only looked at the finish line at the beginning of the race. Once the race started she kept her eyes on all the distractions. She was a little disappointed but as soon as I showed her the video, she agreed, in order to win future races she has to focus on the finish line. 

After our discussion, God gently spoke to my spirit. Many times, I had shifted focus in my race of faith. I had forgotten I am surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses. I failed to strip off every weight so I had been pulled down. God lovingly reminds me to run with endurance the race He has set before me. He reminds me to keep my eyes on Jesus who is my champion! The author and the finisher of my faith! 

Are you focused on distractions?  Refocus today!


Look to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith  and its Finisher!