Nina Smit

Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish.~ Hebrews 12:1-2

The writer of Hebrews describes life as a race, a race in which we must not lag behind or drop out. It is a race that can only be finished if we keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. When youngsters are taught to take part in a race, one principle is impressed on them: athletes who keep on looking back while they run will never win. It is exactly the same in the race of faith: to win this race, it is essential to run with endurance, to carry on and persevere, keeping our eyes on Jesus all the time. Only then will we be able to complete the race of faith as winners.

“Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You must run in such a way that you will win,” Paul writes to the believers in Corinth (see 1 Cor. 9:24). In a traditional race there is only one first prize, and only one athlete can win the race. But it is different in the race of faith. In this race every athlete can be a winner, every athlete who takes part can win the prize. Make sure that you run in such a way that the prize of the race of faith – eternal life – will be yours in the end.

Lord, help me to run my personal race of faith to the full, with my eyes focused on You all the time, so that the prize will be mine in the end. Amen