Go: Perseverance

I've trained for and run two marathons. Both times, I repeatedly thought about quitting. I wanted to quit while I was training. And I wanted to quit while I was running the actual marathons! Around mile 20, the body typically runs out of glycogen, which makes it harder for our muscles to keep moving.

We know the Christian life is a marathon: a pattern of sacrificial obedience and joyful worship until Christ returns or we go to be with him.

When we want to give up, how do we persevere?

Hebrews 12:1-4 reads:

"Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Do you see the themes? What sustained Jesus in his mission? **Joy.**

And what sustains us in our mission? **Jesus, his joy, and the community of God's people.**

Who are these witnesses? The Greek word is μαρτύρων—martyrs. In Hebrews 11, there's an extended list of those who lived by faith and participated in God's mission. Many of their lives ended badly, but the author of Hebrews honors them as examples.

Why? They were all imitating Christ. Jesus despised the shame of the cross. Think of the Beatitudes in Matthew or Luke. Jesus reverses the blessings and curses. He says, "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs."

When I trained for the marathon, I had to viscerally learn that muscle soreness meant I was getting stronger. I had to despise sleeping in because of the surpassing joy of training for a marathon with my friends.

**Enduring in God's mission requires us to see glory where others see shame.**

What are your hindrances to perseverance? What sin easily ensnares you? Identify them so that you can lay them aside—and faithfully run the race that God invites you into.

Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, so that you won't grow weary and give up.

Write down the hindrances and sins that make you want to quit. Confess them to God and ask for his help to lay them aside.

This week, when you're tempted to quit, pause and meditate on Jesus—his endurance, his joy, his glory. Let his example strengthen you.