Fix our eyes on Jesus – run the race marked out for us with perseverance (Hebrews 12:1-2). Jonathan emphasized that requires intentionality.
That theme of intentionality came to mind again through my morning study in Galatians. In chapter 2, Paul recounts a trip he made to Jerusalem 17 years after his encounter with Christ. He went after receiving a revelation. Taking Barnabas and Titus with him, Paul met privately with esteemed leaders in Jerusalem and presented to them the gospel he was preaching to the Gentiles. The latter part of verse 2 reads: “I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain.” He – a Jew himself – had been preaching to the Gentiles salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and he wanted to be sure his efforts were not futile – that his Jewish brothers and fellow believers in Christ were not preaching a different gospel (like requiring circumcision as Old Testament law, the old covenant, mandated).
Paul was clearly being intentional. With relief, we read verse 3 and see not even Titus, a Greek, was forced to be circumcised. But then comes verse 4, the verse that reveals Paul was not the only one being intentional in this situation.
Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery… (ESV)
Satan was at work, intentionally trying to bring them back under a yoke of bondage to the law so the gospel wouldn’t succeed. Notice the word used here for how Satan’s attack came – slipped in. The Greek word is παρεισέρχομαι – pareiserchomai. It means to come in alongside and implies to do so stealthily. What an appropriate word to describe Satan! His attacks are not in-your-face, loud and obnoxious assaults. They are sneaky, cunning… easily able to slip in without notice until much later, when the damage has already been extensive. Just like the serpent in the garden with Adam and Eve (Genesis 3)…
Part of being intentional is realizing that our intentionality will motivate the enemy to strike. We don’t need to waste time wondering if our perseverance in the Lord will lead to attack. It will. The attack is here, and it’s going to keep coming until Jesus overthrows Satan (Revelation 20). That’s right – Satan will eventually be defeated by Jesus, and His faithful followers will dwell with Him.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4)
Run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Below are questions to wrestle through with the Lord as you continue pondering and studying Hebrews 12:1-2 this week:
- What, specifically, is hindering me from running the race with perseverance?
- What sin still entangles me, slowing my pace or maybe even stopping me altogether?
- How can I run with intention even when my circumstances make it difficult?