STEP SIX
Were entirely ready to have God remove these defects of character.
[FONT=TimesNewRoman,Italic]Hebrews 12:1-3 (N.I.V.)
[FONT=TimesNewRoman,Italic]Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of[/FONT]
[FONT=TimesNewRoman,Italic]witnesses let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin[/FONT]
[FONT=TimesNewRoman,Italic]that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the[/FONT]
[FONT=TimesNewRoman,Italic]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 endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. [/FONT]
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To let go of our old fears, addictions, compulsions and
dependencies is much easier said than done. Each of us must
come to the point where we are truly committed to making this break with our past, no matter how painful the process.
With the great gallery of witnesses about us it is important that we persevere in our efforts to throw off everything that hinders. Sin forms a crippling hindrance to running our race well. This race requires endurance and persistence. It is a long distance race which demands sustained effort by the runner, who keeps on with great determination. We are to run this race with no eyes for anyone or anything except Jesus! He is the one toward whom we run with undivided attention!
The author and perfecter of the faith may mean that Jesus walked the way of faith first and brought it to completion or it may mean that he originated his people’s faith and will bring it to its perfection. Both ideas may be involved, but since it is not easy to think of the faith by which Jesus lived as essentially the same as our own, the emphasis seems to fall on what he does in his followers!