High Pursuit
We are two weeks into the new year, and for some of us, new goals and new mindsets are starting to drift to the back of our minds. But I want us to develop a new attitude if we have not before because this type of attitude can set the year and beyond for us if The Lord allows us to see more days. It is a stance we can begin to have right now.
The stance we can have is a runner’s mindset. Let us run after God and the things of God in high pursuit. Hebrews 12:1-2 and 1 Corinthians 9:24 tell us what this pursuit should look like. The passages of Scripture describe the Christian life as a race. It is a race that we need to run well. We must run with endurance and we must run to win a prize.
When I read these passages of Scripture I think of races in The Olympics. In any of the Olympic races I have watched on TV, like the 100-meter dash, I have noticed that every person is giving all they have. They are putting all their energy, effort, focus, and passion into winning the race. Maybe you read those passages and you think of a race like a marathon. People who run in marathons have to have strong endurance to make it to the end. They must take the race steady, maintaining a good pace. Thinking of either of those types of races helps us to understand the text. We must charge to win our prize but also keep a good pace to reach the end.
We are not just running this race alone. Notice in Hebrews 12:1-2 the words before “run with endurance…” state that we are “surrounded with a great cloud of witnesses.” We have many who are watching us. I go back to thinking about a race, those in attendance are usually cheering on the athletes. In the same way, we have brothers and sisters in Christ and citizens of heaven who are witnessing us and cheering us on. How encouraging is that? We have so many that are for us.
After those words in the verse it says “let us lay aside every hinderance and sin that so easily ensures us.” Why would the writer state that before saying to run the race? Because we cannot run our race well if we are embracing sin. We will stumble and fall during our race.
Then notice what is stated in verse two, “keeping our eyes on Jesus the pioneer of our faith.” While we run the race we must fix our gaze, our focus on Jesus. He pioneered the faith and laid the foundation before us. If we look to Him, look at who He is, and look at His testimony, read in The Gospels the life He lived, and try to look like Him, we will run our race well. Our race will look like His because we will start looking more like Him.
Then finally, we need to run for the prize like 1 Corinthians 9:24 states. The prize is Jesus, eternity with Him. When runners run they run to win, and so let us run aiming to be with our prize, Jesus. We need to be in high pursuit to win, giving all of our energy and focus on pursuing God and the things of God. So let us adopt the attitude of living (running) our lives (race) well. This week in prayer ask The Lord how you can better run your race and make this runner’s mindset your banner beginning this year and for the rest of your days.
