RUN WITH PURPOSE, PASSION, AND PERSPECTIVE
	THEREFORE THEN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unne-cessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us. Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself [reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds." (Heb. 12:1-3, Amplified Bible). Hebrews 12 develops the theme of endurance. The first three verses teach us that the key to persistence is passion. All the men and women of faith in Hebrews 11 "made it" because they felt passionate about their cause. The writer compares our lives to a race and tries to convince us that we must run with endurance if we plan to finish well. The text also suggests that if the key to persistence is passion, then the key to passion is purpose. We must run with purpose, not aimlessly. And the key to purpose? Perspective. The writer of Hebrews admonishes us to consider three things that will help us to finish life's race well: 1. Consider them (verse 1): Since a great cloud of witnesses has gone before us, we must look at their example and get serious about finishing well. 2. Consider ourselves (verse 1): It is now our turn to run the race and watch for pitfalls. We must lay aside every encumbrance that would prevent us from finishing well. 3. Consider Jesus (verses 2, 3): Jesus ran His own race and endured hardship by fixing His eyes on the rewards; we must follow His example. [The Maxwell Leadership Bible, John C Maxwell, Thomas Nelson Inc., 2002].