Persevere - Be Strong in the Lord

As Christians, we are in a race as well, an extreme race that requires extreme perseverance. How you run this race determines your character, what kind of person you are. How you run this race determines how you lead and influence your family. How you run this race determines how you impact the people around you. And how you run this race determines how you honor Jesus Christ.

The Bible says, “Since we have a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1). We have a “cloud of witnesses” in heaven, both angels and loved ones, who are watching us and cheering us on as we run our race.

Paul’s second letter to Timothy is about perseverance, endurance, and faithfulness. His letter includes this famous challenge. “Be strong in the Lord, fight the good fight, finish the course, keep the faith.” Those were the last words Paul wrote to Timothy, just days before Paul was executed for being a follower of Jesus Christ. His words were an urgent plea to Timothy and are an urgent plea to us. If you want to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ, if you want to run your race and finish well, you must take these words to heart.