"Runner"

God’s way is the best way,

And one not hard to find,

But fact is, it means changing,

But what you leave behind,

Is not what you have needed,

But weights that slow you down,

So throw off all that hinders,

To move to higher ground.

And, yes, the race we’re running,

Others ran before,

They’ve passed the baton to us,

By faith we can do more,

Than what others expected,

And He can make us strong,

Looking unto Jesus,

Who shows us we belong.

In the race beside Him,

He’s with us all the way,

He’s the author and the finisher,

Of our faith everyday.

And when the race is trying,

We’ll find the strength to run,

‘Cause He gives His grace daily,

And we can get it done.

And soon the race is ending,

When we see Jesus’ face,

And we will keep on running,

Right into that happy place.

We will hear Him speaking,

Words of sacred worth,

Good and faithful runner,

You now are through on earth.

Come up with the runners,

Yes, all who ran before,

And celebrate forever,

On heaven’s golden shore.

“…let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us…” (Hebrews 12:1, NLT)

The writer of Hebrews compares the Christian life to a race it has become our turn to run. A couple of words of counsel are provided. The first is to lay aside every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that trips us up. What weight easily trips you up? Whatever it is needs to be dropped as soon as possible. We are called to be spiritual weight-watchers! The second is to keep our eyes on Jesus. This is probably one of the best pieces of advice found in the Bible. Distractions slow us down and can be lethal. Stay focused. Keep running.

Lord, help us run our race well, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Tim Cox, timcox.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Tim, and God bless you.