Keep Running. Keep Looking To Jesus

Wed, 10 Jul 2019

‘Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus.’ Hebrews 12:1–2 NLT

Glenn Cunningham was born on a Kansas farm and educated in a one-room schoolhouse. He and his brother were responsible for keeping the school’s fire going. One morning as the boys poured kerosene on the live coals to get the fire started before school, the stove blew sky-high. Glenn rushed towards the door, then realised his brother had fallen and wasn’t moving. He went back to help, suffering terrible burns in the process. In the end his brother died and Glenn was hospitalised with severe burns on his legs. The tragedy seemed to mark an end to his dream of running track.

Still, he was determined to walk again—which the doctors said wouldn’t happen, but he did. Then he began to run. Through many periods of discouragement and disappointment he kept running and getting faster. He mastered the mile. Eventually he set his sights on the international record for his distance and broke it! Then he went on to set a new world record. What kept him running? He said it was thinking about his brother.

When you feel discouraged and want to quit, think about Jesus: ‘Let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honour beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility He endured from sinful people, then you won’t become weary and give up.’ (Hebrews 12:1–3 NLT)