Hand of The Potter
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Posted: April 29, 2023
Author: Leslie Wittenmyer Hebrews 12:1-2, New International Version “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 our faith.” |
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I used to be a runner. Running is not an easy thing. It is a test of your endurance. Your body tells you to stop, but your mind tells you to keep going. There are times when it gets difficult, or when you are new to running you have pain in your knees or other parts of your body. In those moments, if you push through the pain will go away. You will get a second wind. Running will feel as natural as walking.
Our walk with the Lord can be paralleled with this. Walking our faith out on a day to day basis is not an easy thing. Sometimes we fall to the fear of what others might think of us, or we are tempted to do something we are not, or we just grow weary and want to throw in the towel. Paul told us in Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV) “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 our faith.”
Our instruction is to throw off everything that hinders us. Throw off fear! Don’t worry about what other people might think, but be concerned about what God thinks! Why? Because Jesus, as the scripture above mentioned, is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith! Throw off the sin that so easily ensnares you! The Lord will be faithful to point this out to us. We each are going through our own trials and tribulations through life. If you seek the Lord, He will point His finger to it, and if you lay it at His feet and repent, He will forgive and help you to throw that sin off!
I remember the first time I ran two miles without walking. My friend and I were slow runners running with an experienced runner that could run for miles nonstop! Neither of us realized that while running we were both thinking, “If she can do it, so can I!” By our actions, we encouraged one another to keep running. Only at the end of our run did we find out that we were saying in our head, “say you need to walk!” but neither of us did. Just as we encouraged one another to continue running the race set before us, so it is important to have fellowship with one another. Earlier in Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV) Paul tells us, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” It’s good to be surrounded by other believers. They can lift you up when you are weary, they can encourage you when you're feeling down, and they can show the love of God to you when you are needing love.
I remember another one of my running friends encouraging me with what may seem like a small thing, but to me was a big thing. I wanted to be in the MTC running club. To do this, I had to complete a 15 mile shirt run. It took us three and half hours to complete this task. Towards the very end, the ladies I was running with were walking. This beautiful friend of mine came up to me, out of all the girls and said, “You're not done yet! We are going to run hard to the end! When we get to the stop sign, jump up and hit it, then you're done!” She ran with me all the way to the end! Why she chose me, I will never know. This I do know. We need each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. We need to hear someone say, “You aren’t done yet! We are going to finish this together!” And together we will finish the race that is set before us. Together we will throw off the sin that so easily entangles us! Together we will throw off everything that hinders us!
You are special to Father God. He wants you and He loves you! In Isaiah 43:1-2 (ESV) it says, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” Not only do we have our brothers and sisters by our side, but we have our Father who promises to be with us through deep waters, in the fire and through every challenge that life may bring.
So, as we started with, so we will end with.
“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 our faith.” (Hebrews 12:1-2, NIV)
Our walk with the Lord can be paralleled with this. Walking our faith out on a day to day basis is not an easy thing. Sometimes we fall to the fear of what others might think of us, or we are tempted to do something we are not, or we just grow weary and want to throw in the towel. Paul told us in Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV) “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 our faith.”
Our instruction is to throw off everything that hinders us. Throw off fear! Don’t worry about what other people might think, but be concerned about what God thinks! Why? Because Jesus, as the scripture above mentioned, is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith! Throw off the sin that so easily ensnares you! The Lord will be faithful to point this out to us. We each are going through our own trials and tribulations through life. If you seek the Lord, He will point His finger to it, and if you lay it at His feet and repent, He will forgive and help you to throw that sin off!
I remember the first time I ran two miles without walking. My friend and I were slow runners running with an experienced runner that could run for miles nonstop! Neither of us realized that while running we were both thinking, “If she can do it, so can I!” By our actions, we encouraged one another to keep running. Only at the end of our run did we find out that we were saying in our head, “say you need to walk!” but neither of us did. Just as we encouraged one another to continue running the race set before us, so it is important to have fellowship with one another. Earlier in Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV) Paul tells us, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” It’s good to be surrounded by other believers. They can lift you up when you are weary, they can encourage you when you're feeling down, and they can show the love of God to you when you are needing love.
I remember another one of my running friends encouraging me with what may seem like a small thing, but to me was a big thing. I wanted to be in the MTC running club. To do this, I had to complete a 15 mile shirt run. It took us three and half hours to complete this task. Towards the very end, the ladies I was running with were walking. This beautiful friend of mine came up to me, out of all the girls and said, “You're not done yet! We are going to run hard to the end! When we get to the stop sign, jump up and hit it, then you're done!” She ran with me all the way to the end! Why she chose me, I will never know. This I do know. We need each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. We need to hear someone say, “You aren’t done yet! We are going to finish this together!” And together we will finish the race that is set before us. Together we will throw off the sin that so easily entangles us! Together we will throw off everything that hinders us!
You are special to Father God. He wants you and He loves you! In Isaiah 43:1-2 (ESV) it says, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” Not only do we have our brothers and sisters by our side, but we have our Father who promises to be with us through deep waters, in the fire and through every challenge that life may bring.
So, as we started with, so we will end with.
“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 our faith.” (Hebrews 12:1-2, NIV)
