Day 5...On Your Mark

I really like the analogy in Hebrews 12:1-3 because it's easy for me to understand and they inspire me. We're running a race, but we're not competing against other runners. In this race the winners are the ones that finish well; not those that finish first.

I just realized something new (for me) about these verses. I had always put the "things that hinder" and the "sin that entangles" together as one thing. But I think they are really two different things. The "things that hinder" are not sinful things, they just prevent us from running our race well. For me, wanting to kick back and relax can be a "thing that hinders" because doing it too much doesn't leave time to be with God. The "sin that entangles" is a little easier to see. I know that being selfish often leads to a lot of sin for me. My selfishness is like tying a giant weight to my feet as I run toward God - slows me way down!

Let's take God's advice seriously and throw these things off so we can run our race well!

• What part of your life has the potential to be a "thing that hinders" your race?
• What "sin that entangles" do you need God to help you overcome in your life?

Pastor Dave