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Run With Endurance!

Hebrews 12:1 is about running a righteous race: “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,” (NIV)

When my daughter, Shayli, was 13 years old, she ran a 400-meter race. I, as a parent, was in the stands, cheering her on. When she was 100 meters from the finish line, I jumped to my feet and yelled loudly, “Run, Shayli, run!”

The book of Hebrews was written to Christian Jews in Rome. They were under cultural pressure as we are today. Today, there is cultural pressure on Christian colleges, especially a Holiness college, like NBC.

Hebrews 12:1 is about running a righteous race: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, 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.” (NLT)

We all need endurance today!

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith…” Hebrews 12:1a (NLT) As you walk into the Kansas City First Church of the Nazarene entrance, there is a tree of life with 300 leaves representing those who have died in the faith. It is an inspiring wall of people who had faith. And the tree inspires us to follow the faith of others.

My wife, Sherri’s, grandmother, Violeta Price, inspired me as a young minister. She lived a life of faith and that inspired me! I’ll never forget as she was aging, she valiantly proclaimed to me, “I have no fear of death.”

We do look to others! We see their faith. We must remember the heroes of the faith! We have watched the faith of President Harold Graves, as he has led Nazarene Bible College in faith. NBC needed Dr. Graves, and his can-do Kingdom-minded faith-attitude!

Are we Kingdom minded? I believe NBC sets the pace in our denomination for being Kingdom minded. Do not forget the great crowd of witnesses who are cheering us on.

As I shouted to my daughter, “Run, Shayli, run,” I say to you at NBC, “Don’t stop, keep going!” NBC is uniquely prepared to prepare pastors. NBC is exhorted, “Run, NBC, run. And don’t stop running!”

“Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that easily trips us up.” Hebrews 12:1b (NLT)

I was fasting one time, and it was late in the day, and I was getting hungry. My office was on the 2nd floor of the church, and my little daughter had been in the office that day. She had made her way up the stairs while eating an Oreo cookie. On the steps, as I was making my way down the stairs, and I saw a half of an Oreo cookie on a step. I was so tempted to pick that cookie up and eat it, because I just love Oreo cookies. Something so small, turned into a temptation on that fasting day.

“Let us throw off everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles.” Hebrew 12:1b (NIV)

Be aware of entangling sin. Sin starts small. Sin is still a problem. It hinders our race. It hinders our witness. We need holiness. Don’t get tripped up! This is important for my congregation, NBC staff and faculty, and for all leaders! We all can still get tripped up. Run the righteous race!

“And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” Hebrews 12:1c (NLT)

I just recently read CS Lewis ‘Screwtape letters’ about the small but powerful influences of the enemy.  We need to run a good race. We should be running a righteous race! We are, of course, a Holiness denomination. I was from a non-Christian family. I needed the Holiness message, and I still do! And Our world needs it more than ever.

Dr. Graves has run a righteous race. In a few weeks, the baton will soon be passed on to a new President. Dr. Graves will hand the baton of leadership to Dr. Sherwood. Run with endurance the race set before us.  

At NBC, we have a great plan that took faith and endurance. The Race continues! God shows us His path when we are faithful to keep running! All of us personally have experienced how the enemy tries to get us to quit- to stop running. We see God’s path. We see the people who with faith have gone before us!

God called me to ministry as a 22-year-old. I had just experienced disappointment not getting a certain job position, right before Sherri and I were married. But God assured me through an intense time of prayer, that He had a better and a more fulfilling plan for my life.

“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,” Hebrews 12:1c (NIV) We must run with perseverance! God will open and shut doors. God has a great plan for all of us!

Rev. Shawn Siegfreid, Pastor of Kansas City First Church of the Nazarene in KC, MO, and NBC Board of Trustees member and Mid America Board member

Published: 05/24/2021

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