Good morning. Today we are in Hebrews. Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Just like at the Olympics the competitors have a great cloud of witnesses surrounding them watching their every move, so do we. Unlike the Olympics though, our cloud of witnesses all have won gold medals. They were successful in the game of life. And if we follow their example of faith, so will we be. In the Olympics they have to put aside every encumbrance that would keep them from performing at their best. And so we too have to lay aside everything that would keep us from performing at our best. Two of the women runners got entangled with each other – while we get entangled in our sin. It trips us up. Life is not a sprint like Bolt is so great at - it is a marathon. So we need to run with endurance. The performers at the Olympics focus their eyes and their attention on some one thing while they are performing. We have to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. He gives us the faith to begin with, and then He is the one who perfects it. There is no joy in the training for and the running of a marathon. It's hard work. But there is great joy in completing, especially winning, a marathon. So let us endure that we may stand on the center podium with Jesus to receive our gold medal. Father thank You that the reader has laid aside everything that would entangle him/her. He/she runs with endurance the race that is set before him/her. He/she fixes his/her eyes on Jesus and is a winner of the gold medal in life.

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