(Audio)
How do we persevere in running the race? It is easy to quit. The "woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years" who "had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had" but "only grew worse" seemed like someone who would be likely to give up. People from the synagogue official's house gave up when they heard that the official's daughter had died. If we're honest, don't we often give up when things don't change or when they simply seem hopeless? How do we keep running the race at such times?
Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us
and persevere in running the race that lies before us
while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus,
the leader and perfecter of faith.
We have a cloud of witnesses urging us not to give up. We must lay aside burdens and sin because these things prevent us from trusting in the LORD. Sin causes us to walk or stand still or change directions when we should be running after Jesus. It misleads us so that we do not enter his healing presence. Instead of sin, we need to believe the truth about Jesus and his power. We need to keep our eyes fixed on him and the truth that is in him.
He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has saved you.
Go in peace and be cured of your affliction."
When we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and follow in the path of the saints there is nothing that can prevent us from entering his healing presence. In that presence nothing is impossible.
He took the child by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum,"
which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise!"
The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around.
At that they were utterly astounded.
Most of us haven't resisted sin to a heroic degree, to the point of shedding blood, but the crowd of witnesses urges us on, showing us that nothing need stop us. They show us that the destination is worth any endurance that is demanded. The goal, Jesus, is before us. Seeing him is itself the source of the power which keeps us moving.
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