Wednesday, January 14, 2009

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:1-3, NIV).

IDEA: To prepare to live the Christian life with zest demands some conscious action on our part.

PURPOSE: To help listeners consider what they might do to deal with things that might slow them down in the Christian life.

I received a New Year's greeting in which a former student wrote, "May you continue to live to the hilt the Christian life for the glory of God."
• What assumptions was my former student making when he wrote that exhortation?
• Suppose you received that kind of card and realized that you had really slowed down in the Christian race?

I. What options might people take to correct the situation?

You can walk away from the Christian faith for some lesser love.

You can take some time in prayer and thought to lay the matter before Christ to get His help in slimming down for the race.

You can seek out some friends who will help you face your problem and hold you accountable to do something about it.

II. You may need to turn away from "performing the faith" and start living it to the hilt again.

The "ordinary" can kill your relationship with Christ just as it undermines a relationship in marriage.

It may mean that you seek help from someone whom you trust who can get you back where you once were.

III. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews and the other writers of the Bible urge us to live the Christian life "by faith."

Do you think that faith applies to putting aside things that hinder us? How?