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Is the Christian life really worth it? How can we live it well?

Is the Christian life really worth it?  How can we live it well?

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

How to Run

There are a couple of things in Hebrew 12 that show us the way we are to run the race of life that God has for us.  We are directed to lay aside, to throw off, every encumbrance and sin that entangles us.  Not just sins, but sin. Don’t just lay aside sins to run this race, lay aside every other weight that gets in the way.  Don’t just ask what is wrong with it (a particular sin), that is the wrong question!

The Right Question

The right question is, “does it help me run”? Does it get in my way when I am trying to be more patient, more kind, more loving, more gentle, more holy, more pure, more self-controlled?  Look to Jesus and lay aside sins, for sure, but lay aside lots of other stuff.

Loss vs. Gain

This laying aside of our “stuff” may look like a lot of loss and not much gain.

Hebrew 12:2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

The night before Jesus was to be crucified he told his disciples there would be a lot of loss. Jesus knew that He was going to endure unimaginable suffering.  Hebrew 12:2 tells us how he went through this time.  It was for the joy that was set before him that he endured the cross.  The Christian life may feel at times, like a loss, but we have the authority of God’s word that tells us that the Christian life is gain.  We can say to our flesh and to satan that nothing in this world, not any pain or suffering, can be compared to the goodness and the glory that awaits a follower of Christ in heaven.

So lay aside every encumbrance and sin which so easily entangles us and run with endurance the race set before us.

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Key Points:

  • How to run.
  • The right question.
  • Love vs. gain.

Quote This:

Hebrew 12:2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

See Also: Christian Living

Talk About It
  1. What is your initial reaction to this topic? What jumped out at you?
  2. What do you think is the point of not just laying aside sins but sin?
  3. Can you identify anything in your life that may not necessarily be a sin, but is not helpful for you in following God?  
  4. Read Hebrews 12:4.  How painful would it be for you to give up some of the things you identified in question number 3?
  5. Read Hebrews 12:2-3. What direction does this verse give us?  How can you follow the example of Christ in this verse?
  6. Read Hebrews 12:5.  How can this verse be an encouragement for you?
  7. Read 1 Corinthians 2:9.  How does this speak to the idea that the Christian life is not a loss but truly gain?
  8. Write a personal action step based on this conversation.

This topic is adapted from the Newsong Church Hawaii YouTube channel.

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