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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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

Hebrews 12:1-2

I stood trackside this morning watching several boys and girls run their 800 m race at the regional elementary track meet. Some ran fast. Some struggled to complete their two laps. As I watched it got me thinking about this passage from the anonymous author of Hebrews. Over the next few weeks I'd like to highlight some different elements of this short section of the Bible.

This morning, let's consider the idea that we have a great cloud of witnesses watching us run our race. Watching the 800 m event, one of the fun parts to see was all of the teachers and volunteers who were standing trackside and cheering on the runners. It didn't matter if it was the lead runner or the runner who dragged himself across the finish line well after everyone else was done. These "witnesses" were watching and cheering. In their own school track and field career, some of those teachers and volunteers had been first place runners. Others had been the straggler. But all of them knew what it was like to run the race, making them excited to cheer on today's runners.

In our race of life as followers of Jesus, we have those who have gone before us cheering us on. Some of those cheering were "heroes" of the faith. Hebrews 11 names a number of those people. But many . . . actually most . . . of those people were anonymous. Their names never made it into the faith record books. But they ran their race well and now they cheer us on, encouraging us as we run.

So let us run. And when we're discouraged, remember that others have run this race before us and have made it. And they are cheering us . . . they are cheering you on.

"Keep going!"

"You can do it!"

"Way to go!"

"I know it's hard, but you can make it!"

I pray you are able to enjoy the sunshine as you run your race knowing that those cheers are for you!

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